<p>In the era of urbanization, studies on how butterflies respond to urban expansion lack comprehensiveness on a global scale. We present an integrative review and meta-analysis to assess the effects of urbanization on butterfly communities and how factors related to study scale and method might influence butterfly distribution in cities. A total of 304 studies were included in this integrative review. Most studies were conducted in the temperate zone, with an increase in recent decades. Experimental field data collection studies were predominant, followed by experimental/observational studies, observational studies, and reviews. Most publications focused on community ecology, and studies on regional scales were more representative, followed by studies on a local scale. Globally, urbanization negatively affects butterfly richness and abundance, although diversity was not affected. Urbanization strongly impacted butterflies in tropical regions, especially in comparisons between preserved and urban areas. The lack of studies in biodiverse regions may obscure the true picture of butterfly responses to urban development. We highlight the need for studies over broader gradients and longer periods to assess diverse land use and their capacities to support species. Our study also revealed significant gaps in understanding the impacts of urbanization on butterfly communities at different scales. Given the current biodiversity crisis and cities exapanding globally, the evidence presented in this study may guide urban management and design efforts for butterfly conservation.</p>