•This meta-analysis showed that higher sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) consumption was significantly associated with a modestly higher risk of depression.•A nonlinear dose-response relationship was found for depression risk with SSBs overconsumption.•The threshold of SSBs consumption for depression was the equivalent of about 2 cups/day of cola, above that level the depression risk might be increased obviously. It remains inconsistent whether sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) consumption increases the risk of depression. Thus, we carried out a meta-analysis to evaluate the association between SSBs consumption and the risk of depression. PubMed and Web of Science were searched for relevant articles published up to June 2018. Pooled relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by the fixed-effects model or random effect model based on heterogeneity test. 10 observational studies involving 37,131 depression cases among 365,289 participants were included. The combined risk of depression for the highest versus lowest consumption of SSBs was 1.31 (95% CI 1.24–1.39). The findings were consistent in the cross-sectional studies (RR = 1.38; 95% CI 1.26–1.52) as well as in the cohort studies (RR = 1.30; 95% CI 1.19–1.41) A nonlinear dose-response relationship was found (Pnonlinearity = 0.0103) for depression risk and SSBs consumption. Compared with SSBs nondrinkers, those who drank the equivalent of 2 cups/day of cola might increase the risk of depression by 5% (RR = 1.05; 95% CI 1.01–1.09). And the equivalent of 3cans/day of cola might have approximately 25% higher risk of depression. 10 studies were included in this meta-analysis, of which only 4 were cohort studies, and more cohort studies need to be performed in the future. This meta-analysis indicates that SSBs consumption might be associated with a modestly higher risk of depression. The results need to be further confirmed in the future.