This study was performed to investigate the antimicrobial effects of hetero-chitosans and their oligosaccharides against three Gram-negative bacteria and five Gram-positive bacteria. Nine classes of hetero-chitosan oligosaccharides consisted of partially deacetylated chitosans; 90％, 75％, and 50％ deacetylated chitosans. Based on molecular weight, they were prepared using an ultrafiltration membrane reactor system. Seventy-five percent deacetylated chitosan showed the highest antimicrobial acitivity as compared with the 90％ and 50％ deacetylated chitosan, and the activity was dependent on their molecular weights. It was apparent that the growth of Gram-negative bacteria is less inhibited in the presence of the heterochitosans and their oligosaccharides than Gram-positive bacteria. These results revealed that the antimicrobial effects of hetero-chitosans and their oligosaccharides depend on the degree of deacetylation, and their molecular weights.