['• To determine if the RENAL nephrometry score is associated with urine leak after partial nephrectomy for tumours ≤ 7 cm.', '• Thirty-one patients who developed urine leak after partial nephrectomy between 1998 and 2006 were identified. Each patient was individually matched (1 : 4 by age, gender and surgery date) to 124 patients who had undergone partial nephrectomy but without urine leak. • Associations of RENAL nephrometry scores and each component of the score (Radius; Endophytic; Nearness to collecting system; and Location) with urine leak were evaluated using conditional logistic regression.', '• Mean tumour size for the 31 patients who developed urine leak was 3.4 cm (median 3.5; range 1.5-5.9). Mean RENAL score was 8 (median 8; range 5-11). • Each unit increase in RENAL score was associated with a 35% increased odds of urine leak (OR 1.35; 95% CI 1.08-1.69; P= 0.009). • On multivariable analysis, tumours that were <50% exophytic (OR 16.65; 95% CI 2.75-100.71; P= 0.002), completely endophytic (OR 17.02; 95% CI 2.88-100.55; P= 0.002), or located at the renal pole (OR 4.34; 95% CI 1.30-14.53; P= 0.017) were associated with urine leak. • If the score attributed to tumour location was reversed (polar location given a higher score), each unit increase in RENAL score was associated with an 89% increased odds of urine leak (OR 1.89; 95% CI 1.40-2.55; P < 0.001).'] Is renal nephrometry score associated with urine leak after partial nephrectomy?