Palmitoylation is a critical post-translational modification that involves the covalent binding of palmitic acid to cysteine residues within proteins. It is widely recognized that palmitoylation plays a significant role in regulating protein membrane localization, stability, and interactions. The kidney plays a key role in maintaining fluid homeostasis and excreting metabolic waste, and its normal function relies on the precise regulation of protein function. Emerging evidence reveals the crucial role of palmitoylation in renal physiological and pathological processes. However, the intricate pathways and molecular regulators in the kidney that are involved in palmitoylation remain insufficiently elucidated. This review summarizes the role and possible underlying physiological and pathological mechanism of palmitoylation in the kidney, including enzymes and inhibitors that regulate palmitoylation, the signaling pathways involved, target proteins involved in palmitoylation, and specific modification sites. Moreover, we focus on detection techniques and corresponding research strategies for palmitoylation. This review can also serve as a practical reference to improve the understanding of palmitoylation and the treatment of kidney-related diseases.