Polyurethanes (PUs) are a class of synthetic polymers with versatile mechanical, chemical, and physical properties, resulting from the condensation of isocyanates and polyols. Their diverse applications, including furniture, footwears, automotive, coatings, and adhesives, have attracted considerable research interest. However, the limited effectiveness of light-to-heat conversion has imposed certain restrictions on their use in some industries. Polydopamine (PDA) with high photothermal (PT) conversion efficiency compared to other PT agents and various functional groups like hydroxyl and amine endows the PU composite with Near-infrared (NIR) light responsiveness and enhances the performance of PU-based composites. This review comprehensively presents the recent developments in PT applications of PDA combined with PU, covering fundamental aspects to current advanced applications. Herein, an overview of the characteristics and synthesis of PDA, as well as various types of PUs and their composites is presented. Substantially, the practical applications of PDA-modified PU materials in various areas are summarized. Lastly, the review ends up with a brief discussion of the challenges and future research directions.