The thermodynamic property data for solid phase I of benzene are reviewed and utilized to develop a new fundamental equation of state (EOS) based on Helmholtz energy, following the methodology used for solid phase I of CO2 by Trusler [J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data 40, 043105 (2011)]. With temperature and molar volume as independent variables, the EOS is able to calculate all thermodynamic properties of solid benzene at temperatures up to 470 K and at pressures up to 1800 MPa. The model is constructed using the quasi-harmonic approximation, incorporating a Debye oscillator distribution for the vibrons, four discrete modes for the librons, and a further 30 distinct modes for the internal vibrations of the benzene molecule. An anharmonic term is used to account for inevitable deviations from the quasi-harmonic model, which are particularly important near the triple point. The new EOS is able to describe the available experimental data to a level comparable with the likely experimental uncertainties. The estimated relative standard uncertainties of the EOS are 0.2% and 1.5% for molar volume on the sublimation curve and in the compressed solid region, respectively; 8%–1% for isobaric heat capacity on the sublimation curve between 4 K and 278 K; 4% for thermal expansivity; 1% for isentropic bulk modulus; 1% for enthalpy of sublimation and melting; and 3% and 4% for the computed sublimation and melting pressures, respectively. The EOS behaves in a physically reasonable manner at temperatures approaching absolute zero and also at very high pressures.