Background: Telomeres have an important role in the maintenance of chromosome integrity and stability. Short telomeres are associated with human aging, age-related diseases, and tumor development, including lung cancer. We investigated the association between lung cancer risk and polymorphisms that may affect telomere length. Methods: Six polymorphisms of TERT, TERC or ZNF676 were genotyped using the Taq-Man® assay or polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay in 1100 lung cancer patients and 1100 age- and sex-matched controls. Results: Two polymorphisms of TERT were significantly associated with lung cancer risk. The rs2736098 AA genotype was associated with an increased risk for lung cancer compared to that of the GG or GA genotype (adjusted odds ratio = 1.36, 95% confidence interval = 1.03-1.80, P = 0.03). TERT rs2853669 T＞C was also associated with increased lung cancer risk (under recessive model, adjusted odds ratio = 1.37, 95% confidence interval = 1.04-1.80, P = 0.02). Conclusions: These findings suggest that two polymorphisms (rs2736098 G＞A and rs2853669 T＞C) in TERT may contribute to genetic susceptibility to lung cancer.