The invention relates to the technical field of reference electrodes, and discloses a portable steel structure corrosion detection device which specifically comprises a shell, wherein a limiting piece is clamped to the inner bottom wall of the shell, a PVC plastic pipe is in lap joint with the upper surface of the limiting piece, a zinc reference electrode is arranged on the inner bottom wall of the PVC plastic pipe, the upper surface of the zinc reference electrode is movably connected with a cable through a bolt, the top end of the PVC plastic pipe is in threaded connection with a plastic cover plate, the middle of the upper surface of the plastic cover plate is in threaded connection with a stuffing box, a top cover is clamped to the inner top wall of the shell, a protection piece is arranged in the middle of the upper surface of the top cover, and the cable is connected to the top cover in a penetrating mode. Through using the zinc reference electrode, the cable, the plastic cover plate and the stuffing box on the PVC plastic pipe, the portable steel structure corrosion detection device is firmer and more durable, meanwhile, the detection accuracy and practicability of the device are greatly improved, the situation that raw materials need to be added or replaced for a traditional copper sulfate reference electrode is avoided, the service life of the device is greatly prolonged, and meanwhile, the environmental requirement and limitation are greatly reduced.