Experimental data for density, viscosity, refractive index and surface tension of four phosphonium-based ionic liquids were measured in the temperature range between (288.15 and 353.15) K and at atmospheric pressure. The ionic liquids considered include tri(isobutyl) methylphosphonium tosylate, [P-i(444) (1)][Tos], tri(butyl) methylphosphonium methylsulfate, [P-4441][CH3SO4], tri(butyl) ethylphosphonium diethylphosphate, [P-4442][(C2H5O)(2)PO2], and tetraoctylphosphonium bromide, [P-8888][Br]. Additionally, derivative properties, such as the isobaric thermal expansion coefficient, the surface thermodynamic properties and the critical temperatures for the investigated ionic liquids were also estimated and are presented and discussed. Group contribution methods were evaluated and fitted to the density, viscosity and refractive index experimental data. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.