[Objective] To investigate the impact of supporting policies on land use efficiency for resource-based cities in the Yellow River Basin, in order to provide theoretical reference for the efficient utilization of land and the implementation of supporting policies for resource-based cities in the Yellow River Basin. [Methods] Taking resource-based cities in the Yellow River Basin as the research object, the urban land use efficiency from 2008 to 2021 was measured by adopting the undesired output super-efficient SBM model. The difference-in-difference model and the mediation effect model were employed to examine the impact of supporting policies on urban land use efficiency, as well as their heterogeneity and channels of impacts. [Results]①During the study period, the overall urban land use efficiency in the Yellow River Basin presented a rising trend in fluctuation. And the difference in land use efficiency between resource-based cities and non-resource-based cities expanded after the implementation of the supporting policy. ②Supporting policies can promote the land use efficiency of resource-based cities in the Yellow River Basin,while the impact has time-lag effect. ③The impact of supporting policies have significant heterogeneity in resource-based cities in different spatial locations and of different types. Supporting policies had a promoting effect on cities in the upstream of the basin, but had an insignificant impact on cities in the midstream and downstream of the basin. The impact on mature cities and recessionary cities was more significant than that on growing cities and regenerating cities. ④Supporting policies could optimize land use efficiency through industrial structure adjustment and environmental governance. [Conclusion] It is necessary to adhere to using policy tools to guide urban development, adopt measures according to local conditions, focus on industrial structure adjustment and environmental governance, so as to improve the quality and efficiency of land utilization and embed the land function into the high-quality development of cities in the Yellow River Basin to exert its advantages.