The invention discloses a process for extracting astaxanthin from prawn shells. The process specifically comprises the steps of soaking prawn shells in hydrochloric acid solution, taking the prawn shells out, washing the prawn shells with water to neutral, and conducting drying and smashing to obtain prawn shell powder; conducting desorption on the prawn shell powder with 70-100 v / v% ethyl alcohol serving as the desorption agent, then adding sig water for extraction at 70-80 DEG C, collecting extracting solution, conducting extraction with an organic solvent, and conducting drying to obtain astaxanthin. During desorption, the ratio of the volume mL of the desorption agent to the mass g of the prawn shell powder is larger than or equal to 8, and desorption time is longer than or equal to 25 min. Sodium hydroxide solution, potassium hydroxide solution or calcium hydroxide solution of 0.5-1.5 mol / L serves as the sig water, and the ratio of the usage amount mL of the sig water to the mass g of the prawn shell powder is larger than or equal to 20. Each time of extraction is longer than or equal to 4 min. According to the method, the prawn shells are treated with ethyl alcohol, consumption is low, cost is low, extraction time is short, extraction rate is high, and the extracting solution is transparent and low in impurity content.