The invention relates to a device and a method for measuring the ice accumulation on an electrical wire. The device comprises a camera, a lighting device, a microprocessor and a storage unit, wherein the camera is arranged below an electrical wire to be measured between two electric poles and is used for collecting images of the electrical wire to be measured before and after icing, and the images are sent to the storage unit by a data line; the lighting device is arranged below the electrical wire to be measured between the two electric poles and is used for lightening the image collection area of the electrical wire to be measured above the camera; the microprocessor comprises an arithmetical unit for measuring the image data and calculating the thickness of the ice accumulation on the electrical wire and a controller for controlling the operation of the camera, the storage unit, the lighting device and a communication transmitting device, and the communication interface of the microprocessor is connected with the communication transmitting device; and the storage unit is used for storing the image data and the calculation formulas. The device can conveniently and fast detect the thickness of the ice accumulation on the electrical wire, provide caution to the operation unit, and have the characteristics of simple structure, low cost, accurate measurement, security and convenience. Besides, the steps of the method are simple, and the measurement result is true and reliable.