Long noncoding RNA SPRY 4‐ IT 1 has been reported to promote melanoma cell growth and invasion, and to block apoptosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of SPRY 4‐ IT 1 in patients with malignant melanoma. The relative expression levels of SPRY 4‐ IT 1 were measured in plasma samples from 70 patients and 79 healthy controls by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. SPRY 4‐ IT 1 expression is high in melanoma patients but low in healthy controls, and is closely associated with tumor site and tumor stage. Elevated SPRY 4‐ IT 1 significantly reduces overall survival rates of patients and is considered as an independent prognostic factor in patients with melanoma. The prognostic nomogram shows a good prediction of the probability of 5‐year overall survival of patients with melanoma (c‐index: 0.72). The calibration curve for the probability of survival presents good agreement between actual outcomes and predictive consequences. In summary, SPRY 4‐ IT 1 may be a potential prognostic marker and a potential therapeutic target.