The invention discloses a method for estimating the modulation frequency and starting frequency of a linear frequency-modulated signal. The method comprises the following steps of: I, acquiring a data sequence x(n), wherein n=0, 1, 2, ellipsis , N-1; II, initializing parameters; III, calculating the power spectrum Yi(12) of a data sequence xi(m) in an ith short time window; IV, estimating the instant frequency estimated value fi of the data sequence in the short time window by adopting a Rife interpolation algorithm; V, judging whether the data sequences of all short time windows are processed, if not, returning to the step III, otherwise, turning to a step VI; VI, calculating a kth iteration weight; VII, judging whether an iteration weight least square linear fitting stop condition is met, if not, returning to the step VI, otherwise, turning to a step VIII; and VIII, calculating modulation frequency and starting frequency parameters. Due to the adoption of the method, the accuracy ofparameter estimation can be increased on the premise of ensuring rapid estimation without performing complex calculation and parameter search.