BackgroundSuper-mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy (SMP) is feasible and safe in adults and children with moderate-size renal calculi, but the use of SMP to remove larger calculi has yet to be determined. This study aimed to review the efficacy (stone-free rate, SFR) and safety of SMP in treating urinary calculi.MethodsPubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Embase were searched for eligible studies published up to May 2021. The primary outcome was the SFR. The secondary outcomes were the complications (using the Clavien-Dindo grading system), pain score, hospitalization days, and mean hemoglobin decline. All analyses were performed using the random-effects model. Nine studies (2433 patients with SMP and 2178 controls) were included.ResultsSMP was not associated with an improved SFR in patients with calculi (RR = 1.05, 95%CI: 0.99–1.11). There were no differences in the occurrence of Clavien-Dindo I (RR = 0.95, 95%CI: 0.67–1.35) and Clavien-Dindo II (RR = 0.91, 95%CI: 0.58–1.42) complications between SMP and the control procedures. There were more Clavien-Dindo III complications with SMP than with the control procedures (RR = 0.71, 95%CI: 0.55–0.91), but none of the individual complications significantly differed between the two groups. Clavien-Dindo I fever appeared to be higher with SMP than with the control procedure (RR = 0.64, 95%CI: 0.50–0.83).ConclusionIn terms of efficacy, there were no differences between SMP and other procedures in treating urinary calculi. Clavien-Dindo I fever and Clavien-Dindo III complications might be more frequent with SMP than other procedures.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12894-023-01256-z.