Ecological footprint is an effective way to measure sustainable development. To fully understand research progress of ecological footprint at home and abroad, based on the bibliometrics and knowledge map methods, this paper takes the journal data collected by Chinese CNKI Database (909 CSSCI articles) and Web of Science Core Collection (1 951 articles) as the research object. The temporal and spatial distribution characteristics, research hotspots and evolution trends of ecological footprint research at home and abroad were compared and analyzed. The results show that: (1) Publication trend between domestic and foreign is different. The number of Chinese articles showed an inverted “U” curve, while foreign papers have an exponential growth trend. The United States published the most papers globally, and China ranks second, but there is no core author group at home and abroad. (2) Disciplines are cross-cut and comprehensive. The most widely published foreign language journal is Ecological indicators. Other interdisciplinary journals on plants, environment, ecology, toxicology and economics highlight the comprehensiveness and intersections of international ecological footprint research. (3) Research focus at home and abroad is different. Domestic and foreign studies are similar in sustainable development assessment, footprint family, economic-environmental relationship, etc. Domestic research shows the characteristics of China’s ecological civilization policy orientation and economic development stage. Finally, this article believes future ecological footprint research may focus on the nexus of ecological footprint and climate change, ecological carrying capacity/pressure of industries or regions, and ecological effects of renewable energy.