The invention discloses a defrosting method for a heat-pump type air conditioner, which decides whether the defrosting operation mode, namely setting environment determination temperature t<1> and t<2> and three constants a, b and c, is carried out by combination of coil tube temperature T of an outdoor heat exchanger, outdoor temperature T, actual heating time H and set heating time h; under the following conditions, the unit starts the defrosting operation mode: 1. when T is less than or equal to t<1> and more than or equal to t<2>, if the coil tube temperature T of the outdoor heat exchanger meets the condition of T less than a, T plus c and H larger than h in a continuous M minutes, the unit starts to defrost; 2. when T is less than t<2>, if the coil tube temperature T of the outdoor heat exchanger meets the conditions of T less than b, T plus c and H larger than h in a continuous M minutes, the unit starts to defrost. The defrosting method has the advantages of shortening defrosting time, improving defrosting efficiency, leading to thorough defrosting and greatly improving heating efficiency.