Abstract Background To investigate the prevalence of vascular calcification based on the ankle‐brachial index (ABI) value and analyse the risk factors for vascular calcification in the general population. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted to collect clinical, laboratory, and lifestyle data in individuals aged 30–70 recruited from the physical examination centre. The automatic arteriosclerosis detector was used to measure the ABI. Difference tests, correlation analyses, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for vascular calcification. Results The overall prevalence of vascular calcification was 24.39% in 1033 subjects. The prevalence of vascular calcification in males was much higher than that in females (27.80% vs. 17.49%, P < 0.001). The differences in age, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), hypertension, and fatty liver disease were statistically significant in males (P < 0.05). The differences between serum uric acid (UA), total cholesterol (TC), TG, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), alcohol consumption, exercise, and postmenopausal status were statistically significant in females (P < 0.05). Increased age (odds ratio (OR) = 1.028, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.008–1.049, P = 0.007), increased BMI (OR = 1.238, 95% CI 1.147–1.337, P < 0.001) and elevated DBP (OR = 2.563, 95% CI 1.262–5.205, P = 0.009) were independent risk factors for vascular calcification in males after adjusting for confounding factors. Increased BMI (OR = 1.159, 95% CI 1.029–1.304, P = 0.015), elevated UA (OR = 1.545, 95% CI 1.077–2.216, P = 0.018), elevated LDL-C (OR = 1.044, 95% CI 1.060–1.027, P < 0.001), and a lack of exercise (OR = 2.402, 95% CI 1.073–5.373, P = 0.033) were independent risk factors for vascular calcification in females. Conclusions The prevalence of vascular calcification based on the ABI value is also high in the general population of our centre. Increased age, BMI, and elevated DBP are independent risk factors for vascular calcification in males. Increased BMI, UA, LDL-C, and a lack of exercise are independent risk factors for vascular calcification in females. Attention should be given to strengthening the prevention and control of vascular calcification in the general population.