Objective: The onset of essential hypertension is the result of a combination of genetic factors and the environment. The nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B1-94ins/del ATTG locus polymorphism is associated with the occurrence of various diseases. The purpose of this study was to find out the relationship between the NF-kappa B1-94ins/del ATTG locus polymorphism and the risk of hypertension in the Chinese Han population. Methods: A total of 585 Chinese Han patients with essential hypertension and 585 Chinese Han healthy volunteers were recruited. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was performed to analyze the genotype of the NF-kappa B1-94ins/del ATTG locus in all the subjects. Results: For the NF-kappa B1-94ins/del ATTG locus, the dominant (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.13-1.54, P < 0.001), recessive (adjusted OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.02-1.32, P = 0.03) and additive (adjusted OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.03-1.36, P = 0.01) models showed significant increase in the risk of hypertension. The NF-kappa B1-94ins/del ATTG locus II genotype was an independent risk factor for hypertension (OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 0.78-1.69, P = 0.02). The interaction between the NF-kappa B1-94ins/del ATTG locus polymorphism and BMI, alcohol consumption, and diabetes significantly increased the risk of hypertension (OR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.26-1.86, P < 0.01). Conclusion: The NF-kappa B1-94ins/del ATTG polymorphism is an independent risk factor for essential hypertension. The NF-kappa B1-94ins/del ATTG locus, obesity, drinking, and diabetes also interact to yield a higher risk of hypertension.