Atherosclerosis (As) is a kind of chronic inflammatory disease, which characterized by the deposition of lipid in vessel wall. Chronic inflammation of vascular wall induced by As factors plays an important role in the pathophysiological process of the disease. The reprogramming of energy metabolism of monocytes/macrophages is closely related to the occurrence and development of As. Warburg effect is an important way of cell energy metabolism. This effect may be involved in some pathological processes of As, such as vascular smooth muscle proliferation, endothelial cell dysfunction, and inflammation. This article reviews the Warburg effect of the vascular wall in As.