The photorefractivity of 14 ferroelectric liquid crystals (FLCs) mixed with a photoconductive compound was investigated by two-beam coupling experiments. The influence of the properties of low-molecular-weight FLCs on the photorefractive effect was examined, and it was found that the photorefractive two-beam coupling gain coefficients and the refractive index grating formation time are strongly dependent on the properties of FLCs. The effects of the magnitude of the spontaneous polarization, the viscosity, and the homogeneity of the surface-stabilized state on the photorefractivities of FLCs are discussed based on these findings.