The invention provides a distributed self-adaptation direct positioning method based on time difference to overcome the defects existing in a centralized positioning method. The method comprises the following steps that firstly, data are collected, wherein all receivers receive signals transmitted by a transmitter at the same time, and demodulating and sampling are carried out on the signals to obtain dispersed received signals of a base band; secondly, primary data exchanging is carried out, wherein the receivers send the dispersed base band signals received by the receivers to the adjacent receivers; thirdly, self-adaptation operation is carried out, wherein the receivers carry out operation on the formula (please see the formula in the specification); fourthly, secondary data exchanging is carried out, wherein the receivers send the obtained result (please see the result in the specification) to the adjacent receivers; fifthly, combining is carried out, wherein the receivers carry out operation according to the formula (please see the formula in the specification); sixthly, the difference values of iteration values obtained after the formula (please see the formula in the specification) is carried out 50 times are smaller than a threshold value delta, and then the position estimation value of the transmitter is regarded to be obtained. According to the positioning method, extendibility and the positioning speed are high, and the working robustness is strong.