Host-guest inclusion complexes of three sequential cationic room temperature surface active ionic liquids, benzyltrialkylammonium chloride [(C6H5CH2)N(CnH2n+1)3Cl; where n = 1,2,4] with beta-cyclodextrin in aqueous media have been studied using surface tension, conductance and NMR spectroscopy. All the studies have suggested that the hydrophobic benzyl group of ionic liquids is encapsulated inside into the cavity of beta-cyclodextrin and played a crucial role in supporting the formation of inclusion complexes. The variation of the thermodynamic parameters with guest size, shape is used to draw inferences about contributions to the overall binding by means of the driving forces, viz., hydrophobic effect, steric hindrance, van der Waal force, and electrostatic force. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.