The invention discloses an obstacle avoidance method for a mowing robot based on an improved artificial potential field method, which comprises the following steps: S1, the positions of a starting point and a target point of a mowing robot are set, a gravitation potential field gain coefficient and a repulsion potential field gain coefficient are set, and a surrounding environment model of a mowing robot is built; S2, a gravitation potential field function is improved; S3, a repulsion potential field function is improved; S5, the magnitudes and directions of the gravitation and each repulsionborne by the mowing robot are calculated, the components of the gravitation and the repulsions in the horizontal and vertical directions are calculated, and the magnitude and direction of the total potential field force borne by the mowing robot are calculated; and S6, the mowing robot moves to the target point under the action of the total potential field force of the improved artificial potential field method, and the coordinates of the mowing robot are updated to obtain a planned path of the mowing robot. According to the invention, the mowing robot can operate safely, stably and efficiently, and the practicability of the improved obstacle avoidance method is improved.