The potentially functional polymorphism, rs31489, in the promoter region of cleft lip and palate transmembrane protein 1 (CLPTM1L) gene has been implicated in cancer risk. However, individual published studies showed inconclusive results. To obtain a more precise estimate of the association between CLPTM1L rs31489 and risk of lung cancer, we performed a meta-analysis. Summary odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using random-effects models. Ten individual case-control studies in eight publications with 20,680 cases and 28,330 controls were included. Overall, the variant genotypes were associated with a significantly increased lung cancer risk in different genetic models (CC + AC vs. AA: OR=1.20, 95 % CI 1.12-1.28, P<0.001; CC vs. AC + AA: OR=1.15, 95 % CI 1.07-1.23, P<0.001; CC vs. AA: OR=1.28, 95 % CI 1.17-1.41, P<0.001; CC vs. AC: OR=1.11, 95 % CI 1.05-1.17, P<0.001; C vs. A: OR=1.12, 95 % CI 1.06-1.18, P<0.001). In the stratified analyses, the increased lung risk remained for the studies of Caucasian populations. In conclusion, this meta-analysis suggested that CLPTM1L rs31489 was a potential biomarker for lung cancer risk in Caucasians.