Objective To summarize the best evidence of non-pharmaceutical intervention on thirst in critically ill patients, providing reference for nursing staff to take intervention measures to alleviate patient′s thirst. Methods According to the "6S" evidence pyramid model, literature related to non-pharmaceutical interventions for thirst in critically ill patients were systematically searched in both domestic and foreign evidence-based databases, guideline websites, association websites, and related original databases from August 2011 to August 2022. After completing the quality evaluation, relevant evidence was extracted one by one according to the professional knowledge. Results A total of 13 articles were finally included, including three expert consensus reports, three systematic reviews, one evidence summary and six randomized controlled trials, summarizing 21 pieces of evidence from six aspects. Conclusion The summarized best evidence of non-pharmaceutical interventions for thirst in critically ill patients can provide guidance for clinical nursing staff. It is necessary to pay attention to the needs of critically ill patients for thirst and choose appropriate evidence based on the actual needs of patients.