There are strong association between remnant cholesterol (RC)/non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (NHDL-C) and increase cardiovascular (CV) risk. The aim of present study was to investigate the association between target lipid parameters (RC and NHDL-C) and the risk of CV mortality in general population. Data set from an open database-National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) 2003-2014 were extracted (n = 14992). Kaplan-Meier, multivariable COX regression, and restricted cubic spline (RCS) parameters. Compared to the lowest quartile, RC (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 1.63 95%CI 1.05-2.52, P for trend = 0.037) and triglycerides (TG: Model 3: HR = 1.69 95%CI 1.10-2.60, P for trend = 0.049) in the highest quartile were independently associated with the increased cardiovascular mortality, while NHDL-C and apolipoprotein B (ApoB) in adjusted models did not show association (P for trend >0.05). In addition, RCS regression demonstrated that RC (P for nonlinearity = 0.011) and TG (P for nonlinearity = 0.010) levels had a similar J-shape association with CV mortality. Threshold effect analysis showed that when RC ≤ 29.3 mg/dL, the level of RC and CV mortality risk were positively correlated. Our findings suggest high RC levels are associated with an increased risk of CV mortality, which support that the integration of TG-rich lipoproteins parameters in risk assessment might optimize the identification and management of selected population.