BACKGROUND Renal transplantation in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) remains a feasible option because no recurrence has been reported. Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) for patients with ADPKD is performed to control infection, pain, or bleeding and can help reduce kidney volume. However, nephrectomy may be needed for inadequate kidney shrinkage. The effects of these procedures performed before transplantation on transplant outcomes or kidney functions are not discussed. We retrospectively evaluated the effectiveness of nephrectomy and TAE before transplantation. METHODS Forty-four patients who underwent renal transplantation in our center between 2008 and 2018 were classified into 4 groups according to whether nephrectomy or TAE was performed. We collected information on sex, age, type of transplantation, history of nephrectomy or TAE, renal function, postoperative complications, graft acceptance, and survival rates. RESULTS Of the 17 patients who underwent TAE and those who did not, 8 and 7 underwent nephrectomy, respectively; 16 underwent bilateral TAE and primitive transplantation. The patients who underwent both nephrectomy and TAE had significantly better kidney function than those who underwent neither. With TAE alone, without nephrectomy, the mean volume reduction rate was 23.5% and 28.4% on the left and right, respectively; in patients who underwent neither procedure, the mean volume reduction rates were 24.8% and 28.4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Patients who underwent both nephrectomy and TAE had better renal function than those in any other group. However, if the recipient's pelvis has sufficient space, nephrectomy is unnecessary because the kidney volume decreases after transplantation by approximately 25%.