In order to understand the backgrounds of heavy metal contents in tobacco irrigation water in China, 151 irrigation water samples, with 111, 14, 5 and 21 were river and canal water, rain water, reservoir water and groundwater, were collected from 26 tobacco-planting areas in 13 provinces, and the contents of heavy metals of Hg, As, Cd, Cr, Cu and Pb were measured. The results showed that the contents of Hg, As, Cd, Cr, Cu and Pb were 0–0.61, 0–8.16, 0–0.58, 0–7.29, 0–7.50 and 0–10.13 ug/L and with averages of 0.17, 0.98, 0.03, 0.46, 1.54 and 2.60 ug/L respectively, which were all lower than the corresponding national limitations; The comprehensive water quality index was highest in reservoir water (0.20) and in north China (0.18). In summary, the environment quality of tobacco irrigation water in China now is at the clean and safe level.