The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of interleukin 10 alpha receptor (IL10RA) gene and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a Chinese population. We examined 533 RA patients and 958 subjects as a control group. Three IL-10RA SNPs (rs9610, rs2229113 and rs3135932) were genotyped using TaqMan genotyping assays on Fluidigm 192.24 system. The IL-10RA rs9610 A allele was increased in patient group compared with control subjects (OR = 1.232, 95 % CI = 1.052-1.442, p = 0.030). Significant difference in genotype distribution was found in RA patients and controls (chi 2 = 15.32, p < 0.001). We also discovered a statistical significance under the dominant model (GG + AG versus AA: OR = 0.676, 95 % CI = 0.546-0.837, p < 0.001). However, no significant difference was discovered in the recessive model (GG versus AG + AA: OR = 1.013, 95 % CI = 0.754-1.361, p = 0.932). Interestingly, significant differences were detected both in the allele and genotype frequencies of rs9610 between anti-CCP positive patients and anti-CCP negative patients (chi 2 = 7.209, p = 0.007; chi 2 = 9.061, p = 0.011; respectively). We also found a significant difference in genotype frequency at rs9610 in females compared with males (chi 2 = 7.658, p = 0.022). Unfortunately, we failed to find any significant results between two IL-10RA SNPs (rs2229113 and rs3135932) and RA susceptibility. The findings suggest that IL-10RA rs9610 polymorphism might contribute to RA susceptibility.