Effect of temperature on antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) during vermicomposting of domestic excess sludge remains poorly understood. Vermicomposting experiment with excess sludge was conducted at three different temperatures (15 °C, 20 °C, and 25 °C) to investigate the fate of ARGs, bacterial community and their relationship in the process. The vermicomposting at 25 °C did not significantly attenuate the targeted ARGs relative to that at 15 °C and 20 °C. The dynamics of qnr A, qnr S, and tet M genes during vermicomposting at 15 °C and 20 °C followed the first-order kinetic model. Temperature remarkably impacted bacterial diversity of the final products with the lowest Shannon index at 25 °C. The presence of the genus (Aeromonas and Chitinophagaceae) at 25 °C may contribute to the rebound of the genes (qnr A, qnr S and tet M). The study indicates that 20 °C is a suitable vermicomposting temperature to simultaneously reach the highest removal efficiency of the ARGs and the good biostability of the final product. [Display omitted] • Temperature variation affected the fate of ARGs during vermicomposting of domestic sludge. • Changes of qnr A, qnr S and tet G genes during vermicomposting at 15 °C and 20 °C followed the first kinetic model. • Host bacteria of ARGs differed with vermicomposting temperature. • 20 °C is a suitable temperature to reach the highest removal efficiency of the target ARGs and the good biostability of the final products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]