Under the background that the international governments aim to achieve low-carbon development, the urban low-carbon development has become hot for scholars both at home and abroad. To analyze the theoretical basis of low-carbon city research is not only an important step for constructing research framework and system, but also an important step for guiding urban’ low-carbon development. This paper systematically analyze system theory, sustainable development theory, ecological footprint theory, decoupling development theory, EKC theory, welfare economics theory, input and output theory . It aimed to provide theoretical support and guidance for low-carbon city research.