Abstract In this paper, the state estimation problem for a class of mismatched uncertain time-delay systems is addressed. The estimation uses observer-based control techniques. The mismatched uncertain time-delay systems investigated in this study include mismatched parameter uncertainties in the state matrix and in the delayed state matrix. First, based on a new lemma with appropriately choosing Lyapunov functional, new results for stabilization of mismatched uncertain time-delay systems are provided on the basis of a linear matrix inequality (LMI) framework and the asymptotic convergence properties for the estimation error is ensured. Second, the control and observer gains are given from single LMI feasible solution which can overcome the drawback of the bilinear matrix inequalities approach often reported in the literature. Finally, a numerical example is used to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed method.