Introduction: The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the shaping ability of Protaper Universal and XP-endo Shaper in oval-shaped canals of distal roots of mandibular molars using CBCT analysis. Methods:A total of 30 mandibular molars with a single oval-shaped distal canal were selected and randomly divided into two experimental groups (n=15) according to the instrumentation technique:ProTaper Universal and XP-endo Shaper. Specimens from both the groups were scanned using CBCT before and after instrumentation to evaluate the canal preparation, number of prepared and unprepared surfaces at three thirds of the root canal and time taken for preparation with each instrument system. Data were statistically analyzed, and the significance level was set at p<0.05. Results:Both groups caused significant preparation of all surfaces at all three thirds of the root canal. No statistical difference was observed in the mean difference of pre-instrumentation and post-instrumentation measurements for both the groups (p>0.05). However, XP-endo Shaper performed significantly better with lesser percentage of unprepared surfaces when compared to ProTaper Universal at the coronal, middle and apical thirds (p<0.05). Instrumentation with XP-endo Shaper was significantly faster than ProTaper Universal (p<0.05). Conclusion:XP-endo Shaper and ProTaper Universal had similar shaping ability. However, XP-endo Shaper prepared the canals more effectively and efficiently with significantly lesser percentage of unprepared surfaces at all three thirds and a considerably shorter preparation time. Neither technique was capable of completely preparing the oval-shaped distal canals of mandibular molars.