Aim To investigate the effect of different obese type on arterial stiffness in essential hypertension. Methods The basic information was collected in a total of 776 essential hypertensive patients. According to body mass index （BMI） and waist circumference （WC） level, all patients were divided into four groups, namely, normal BMI and normal waist circumference group （Ⅰgroup, n194）, normal BMI and elevated waist circumference group （Ⅱgroup, n195）, excessive BMI and normal waist circumference group （Ⅲ group, n196）, excessive BMI and elevated waist circumference group （Ⅳgroup, n191）. Brachial ankle pulse wave velocity （BaPWV） and ankle-brachial blood pressure index （ABI） were observed in all patients. Arterial stiffness index （AI） was calculated using the blood lipid of all hypertension patients. Results BaPWV （2120±263 mm/s） and AI （3.35±0.87） in Ⅳ group were significantly higher than Ⅰgroup （P<0.01）, Ⅱgroup and Ⅲ group （P<0.05）. ABI （0.72±0.15） in Ⅳ group were significantly lower than Ⅰgroup （P<0.01）, Ⅱgroup and Ⅲ group （P<0.05）. There were no statistical differences between Ⅱgroup and Ⅲ group in ABI and AI （P>0.05）. Results of 2×2 factorial analysis showed that there was a distinctive and synergistic effect between excessive BMI and elevated waist circumference on arterial stiffness. Conclusion Arterial elasticity function was aggravatedly damaged in essential hypertension in patients with abdominal obesity. Excessive BMI and elevated waist circumference had interaction and synergistic effect on the damage of arterial elasticity function.