[Objective] The dominant climatic and non-climatic factors of vegetation cover in Shaanxi Province were studied in order to provide a scientific basis for the construction of regional ecological civilization.[Methods] Based on the MODIS normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data from 2003 to 2017, the effects of climatic and non-climatic factors on the vegetation coverage were studied using trend analysis and geographic detector in Shaanxi Province.[Results] ① The NDVI in Shaanxi Province generally improved from 2003 to 2017. However, there were differences between vegetation types and ecological areas. ② In terms of climatic factors, the spatial distribution of vegetation coverage was mainly affected by the precipitation in Shaanxi Province, and other climatic factors had different influences on local vegetation cover. ③ The interaction of precipitation and temperature, sunshine, wind speed, and relative humidity had a leading role in the spatial change of vegetation coverage in Shaanxi Province, whereas the sole interaction between temperature and precipitation had significant effect on vegetation coverage. ④ In terms of non-climatic factors, the spatial distribution of vegetation coverage was mainly affected by vegetation type and the topography in Shaanxi Province. ⑤ Vegetation types and landforms were the dominant non-climatic factors affecting the spatial distribution of vegetation coverage in Shaanxi Province. However, the impact of population and gross domestic product on vegetation cover could only be seen through interaction with other factors.[Conclusion] The influence of climatic factors was greater than that of non-climatic factors. The combined effect of climatic and non-climatic factors could completely explain the spatial distribution of vegetation coverage.