The X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1 (XRCC1) gene belongs to the family of DNA repair genes. Polymorphisms in the XRCC1 gene, Arg399Gln, Arg194Trp and Arg280His, have been reported to have implications in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) susceptibility, but the results remain conflicting and no meta-analysis has been published. Therefore, we carried out a systematic review of the published epidemiology studies, aiming to assess the relationship between XRCC1 polymorphisms and susceptibility to DTC risk. We selected three databases, PubMed, EMBASE and CNKI, in which to search for published literature. With respect to DTC risk associated with XRCC1, combined odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were appropriately calculated on the basis of co-dominant, dominant and recessive models. To investigate different effects from specific race, subgroup analyses were carried out in Asian and Caucasian populations. Eight studies meeting the inclusion criteria were eventually selected for Arg399Gln (1,550 cases and 2,692 controls), five studies for Arg194Trp (858 cases and 1,394 controls) and five studies for Arg280His (1,237 cases and 2,267 controls). The combined results of the relevant studies exhibited that no significant associations with DTC risk were demonstrated for polymorphisms in XRCC1 Arg399Gln, Arg194Trp and Arg280His in all genetic models. Stratified analyses in Asian and Caucasian populations showed similar results. This meta-analysis arrives at a conclusion that the XRCC1 (Arg399Gln, Arg194Trp, Arg280His) polymorphisms appear to confer no risk for DTC.