Background: Studies investigating the association between the polymorphisms in TNF and ankylosing spondylitis have been reported the conflicting results. Here we performed a meta-analysis based on the evidence available from the literature up-to-date to further clarify this relationship. Methods: Our systematic search was done in the PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases (up to March 2020). The pooled and individual odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the minor allele of each locus were presented to assess the associations between TNF polymorphisms and AS in different ethnicities in common population. Results: Seventeen studies, consisting of seven European studies, eight East Asian studies and two Latin-American studies, were included in this meta-analysis. In the total population, the A allele in TNF-238 (OR = 0.702, 95%CI = 0.506–0.973, p = 0.034) and TNF-308 (OR = 0.638, 95%CI = 0.507–0.804, p = 0.000), the C allele in TNF-1031 (OR = 0.594, 95%CI = 0.446–0.791, p = 0.000), the T allele in TNF-850 (OR = 3.462, 95%CI = 1.764–6.798, p = 0.000) and rs769178 (OR = 2.593, 95%CI = 2.175–3.091, p = 0.000) were significantly associated with AS susceptibility. There were no significant association between the minor alleles of TNF-376, TNF-857, TNF-863 and AS susceptibility. There are inconsistent results in the Latin-American population and East Asian population with those in the total population. Conclusions: Our meta-analysis suggests that TNF-α polymorphisms at positions − 238, − 308, − 850, − 1031 and rs769178 could have an influence on ankylosing spondylitis susceptibility in the total population. But there is no association of the TNF-376, TNF-857, TNF-863 polymorphisms with ankylosing spondylitis. Some results in the subgroups are not consistent with those in the total population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]