The associations of the X-ray repair cross complementing group 1 (XRCC1) gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) Arg194Trp, Arg280His, Arg399Gln with the risk of gliomas have been studied recently, but contradictions exist whether the XRCC1 SNPs were a risk factor. We examined these associations by performing a meta-analyse. Nine studies tested the associations between XRCC1 SNPs and gliomas were retrieved. Overall odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95 % confidence intervals were estimated using genetic models. Heterogeneity and publication bias were evaluated. The pooled OR for Arg194Trp TT versus CC were significant, which was 2.208 (95 % CI: 1.099, 4.435; P = 0.026), but it was non-significant after removal of the studies which deviated from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). The pooled OR for Arg399Gln AA+GA versus GG of genotype methods subgroup and the low study appraisal score subgroup were significant in the stratification analysis, but the meta-regression results were non-significance. No significant associations were found between the Arg280His SNPs and gliomas' risk. There was no evidence of publication bias. We conclude that SNPs in XRCC1 are not associated with the risk of gliomas. We should do more work on the relevant variants like those in TERT, RTEL1, EGFR, CDKN2A, CCDC26, and PHLDB1 and their products rather than the XRCC1. More GWAS will also need to involve sufficiently larger study populations along with analysis of tumor or gender subtypes in order to assess these risks.