The XRCC1 Arg194Trp and Arg280His polymorphisms were likely to be involved with the development of bladder cancer. However, there had been inconsistent reports of association. This meta-analysis of literatures was performed to draw a more precise estimation of the relationship. We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science for relevant articles with a time limit of April 25, 2013. Summary odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the strength of association between the two polymorphisms and bladder cancer susceptibility using a random-effects model. This meta-analysis including 14 case-control studies evaluated the associations between the two XRCC1 polymorphisms and bladder cancer susceptibility. Overall, for Arg194Trp, significant associations were found in TT versus CC (OR=1.78, 95% CI=1.12-2.82) and the recessive model (OR=1.71, 95% CI=1.11-2.65); for Arg280His, significant associations were also found in AG versus GG (OR=1.63, 95% CI=1.24-2.13) and the dominant model (OR=1.39, 95% CI=1.07-1.82). When stratified by ethnicity, in Asian population, significant associations were found for Arg194Trp polymorphism in TT versus CC (OR=2.99, 95% CI=1.48-6.06), the dominant model (OR=1.33, 95% CI=1.03-1.72) and the recessive model (OR=2.72, 95% CI=1.36-5.45), and for Arg280His in GA versus GG (OR=2.13, 95% CI=1.63-2.97), but no significant associations were found in no-Asian population. This meta-analysis suggested that XRCC1 Arg194Trp and Arg280His polymorphisms were risk factors for increasing bladder cancer in Asian population.