To analyse the cadmium level in food and dietary intake of residents in Hangzhou for risk assessment.Methods The content of cadmium in foods were determined by the monitoring project of food contamination in Hangzhou city during 2011-2013. The actual dietary intake of cadmium was obtained by combining the data of food consumption survey in Hangzhou residents in 2010 with the data of cadmium content in foods. The dietary intake of cadmium among Hangzhou residents was assessed by provisional tolerable monthly intake (PTMI) recommended by JECFA. Results Cadmium was detected in 745 of 1 010 samples (73.76%) from ten food categories. Rice, wheat and pig viscera were all positive while the detection rate of dairy products was the lowest. The violation rate was 5.12%, mainly in rice, aquatic products, pig kidney, eggs, vegetables and edible mushrooms. Combined with the mean value of food consumption estimates, the cadmium exposure of Hangzhou residents from 10 major food categories were 22.61 μg/kg BW, which was below the PTMI (25 μg/kg BW), and the MOS value was 1.11. The highest contributor were rice(64.16%), vegetables (15.28%) and aquatic products (14.48%).Conclusion The average dietary exposure of cadmium from 10 food categories did not exceed the PTMI, the MOS was above 1, so the dietary cadmium exposure was safe in general, but more attention should be paid to the risk of cadmium exposure in higher food consumption population. Besides, based on the consumption of rice in Hangzhou and the high contribution rate of rice to dietary cadmium exposure, more attention should be paid to prevent and control cadmium contamination in the farmland.