The invention discloses a method and equipment for detecting the appearance quality of a product. The method can be used for comprehensively detecting the outer contour defect and surface defect of the product and the defect of the product in a working state. The equipment comprises an illumination light source, a speed detection device, an image acquisition device, a defect detection module, a not good (NG) product removing device, an NG product conveying belt, a defect alarm device, a fixing frame, an electric control box, an industrial personal computer, a display and the like. When the defect detection module detects products with unqualified appearance quality, the defect alarm device gives an acousto-optic alarm, and the NG product removing device is started to remove the unqualified products to the NG product conveying belt. By the method and the equipment, the appearance quality defect is comprehensively detected, the equipment is high in automation degree, the detection speed is high, the detection result is high in objectivity and consistency, and the production efficiency of the manufacturing industry can be effectively improved.