The title compound, [Pb(2)(C(2)H(3)O(2))(4)(C(8)H(10)O(2))](n), has a polymeric structure, with acetatolead(II) chains and 2,5-dimethyl-benzene-1,4-diol mol-ecules forming bridges between two Pb(II) ions from neighbouring chains. Each Pb(II) centre is surrounded by eight O atoms; four belong to bidentate acetate ions, three to neighbouring bridging acetate groups and one to the 2,5-dimethyl-benzene-1,4-diol mol-ecule. The Pb(II) ions are chelated symmetrically and asymmetrically by acetate ligands. The coordination environment of the Pb(II) ion can be described as a hemidirected Pb(II)O(6) core with the empty space around the metal ion filled by the stereochemically active 6s(2) electron pair and two longer Pb-O contacts. The Pb-O distances are in the range of 2.355 (3)-2.994 (3) Å. Additionally, the crystal structure is stabilized by O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds.