Landscape spatial heterogeneity is intimately related to ecosystem services. Appropriately modifying landscape spatial heterogeneity can be beneficial in terms of the continuous generation and stabilized provision of ecosystem services. Research on the interaction and response mechanism between landscape spatial heterogeneity and ecosystem service generation and provision yield information of substantial theoretical and practical value, and also provide an essential foundation for biodiversity conservation, ecosystem service management, and landscape spatial optimization. Although previous studies have mainly discussed the interactions between landscape patterns and ecological process or ecosystem services, there has been relatively little attention paid to effective connections among landscape patterns, ecological processes, and ecosystem services. Consequently, it remains unclear how landscape spatial heterogeneity directly or indirectly affect the generation and provision of ecosystem services. Therefore, on the basis of existing literature, we reviewed the progress, content and methods of research on the relationship between landscape pattern or landscape spatial heterogeneity and ecosystem services. Starting with the variation in landscape composition and configuration, we discuss the effects of landscape spatial heterogeneity on the generation and provision of ecosystem services. We accordingly propose that changes in landscape compositional heterogeneity can affect ecosystem services directly, whereas changes in landscape configurational heterogeneity can affect ecosystem services indirectly through altering ecological process. When landscape spatial heterogeneity affects the generation and provision of ecosystem services, it simultaneously results in a more heterogeneous distribution of ecosystem services. This phenomenon can be explained in terms of both natural and anthropogenic factors. The importance of scale effects in the research on landscape spatial heterogeneity and ecosystem services is also emphasized. Understanding the effect of landscape spatial heterogeneity on the generation and provision of ecosystem services can not only contribute to sustaining and regulating ecosystem services but also reveal the underlying ecological principles associated with these interactions.