Renal calculus is a common disease of urinary system. Calculus formation is associated with dietary factors, genetics, comorbidities, microorganism environment, modulators in the urine and many other factors. It has become a kind of chronic metabolic condition which needs multi-disciplinary treatment. Imaging, metabolic evaluation and calculus analysis provide a variety of tools for calculus diagnosis and evaluation. As the first-line imagine examination recommended by guidelines, CT has advantages in distinct sectional anatomy with high sensitivity and specificity, and dual-energy CT makes it possible to discriminate different calculus compositions noninvasively. The 24-hour urine test can help predict the risk of renal calculus. This article reviews recent research progresses in the risk factors, diagnosis and evaluation of renal calculus.