Published data on the association between polymorphisms of the X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1 (XRCC1) gene and skin cancer risk are inconsistent. Hence, we conducted a meta-analysis of three frequently occurring XRCC1 polymorphisms and risk of skin cancer to obtain the most reliable estimate of the association. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted from a total of 10 eligible studies describing 4,801 cases and 4,960 controls for the Arg399Gln (G>A) polymorphism, 1,026 cases and 1,089 controls for the Arg194Trp (C>T) polymorphism, and 1,392 cases and 1,476 controls for the Arg280His (G>A) polymorphism. The distributions of genotypes in the controls were consistent with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The Arg399Gln and Arg194Trp polymorphisms were not correlated with skin cancer risk when all studies were pooled into the meta-analysis under three genetic models. No significant association was observed in stratified analyses of Arg399Gln and Arg194Trp polymorphisms by tumor type, race, or control source. In contrast, the Arg280His polymorphism was associated with an approximate 3.5-fold increase in skin cancer risk in homozygote codominant and recessive models.