[Objective] The ecological footprint was calculated and the driving factors in China's continental coastal zone was analyzed in order to provide a reference for ecological civilization construction and sustainable development.[Methods] Based on the three-dimensional ecological footprint expansion model, the ecological footprint, biological capacity, and footprint depth of China's mainland coastal zone from 2008 to 2017 were calculated. The sustainable development of China's coastal zone was analyzed in terms of time and space, and the driving factors were analyzed using the partial least-squares method.[Results] ① In the 10 years from 2008 to 2017, the total biological capacity and the per capita ecological footprint of China's coastal zone increased yearly. In terms of component contribution, the per capita ecological footprint of energy fossil land was the largest. ② From 2008 to 2017, the per capita biological capacity did not vary significantly. Among all provinces and cities, the per capita biological capacity of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region was always the largest, while that of Shanghai City was always the smallest. ③ The depth of the footprint showed a trend of increasing year by year, and the depth was greater than 1, which consumed the natural capital stock and aggravated the ecological deficit. From the perspective of space, the depth of the per capita footprint was generally large in central and northern provinces, while the depth of the per capita footprint in Southern Guangxi, Guangdong, and Fujian provinces was relatively low. ④ Economic development, urban scale, environmental pollution, and interregional communication were the driving factors that lead to an increase in ecological footprint and footprint depth. Ecological construction and the improvement of science and technology played a positive role in alleviating the ecological footprint and increasing the depth of the footprint.[Conclusion] In the future, the sustainable development of China's coastal zones can be realized by adjusting the industrial and population structures, changing consumption patterns, further strengthening ecological construction, and improving the scientific and technological levels.