In this study, self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) of the powder compact consisting of titanium and graphite was used to synthesize titanium carbide (TiC_x). The relationship between the C/Ti ratio in the reactants and the stoichiometry of the resultant TiC_x phase was investigated. The result showed that when the molar ratio of C to Ti in the reactants increased from 0.6 to 1.2, the stoichiometry of the resultant TiC_x phase first increased and then decreased with the maximum value appearing at C/Ti = 1.0, so did the change in the maximum combustion temperature; Furthermore, with an increase in the particle size of graphite, the maximum combustion temperature and the stoichiometry of the resultant TiC_x phase decreased. Consequently, the maximum combustion temperature might play a dominating role in determining the final composition of the TiC_x phase.