The invention provides a plate head bent shape detection device which is based on a far infrared image. A measurement method gains the images by the heat radiation of the plate, without any external heat sources or light sources. The invention mainly comprises a CCD camera (charge coupling device), an infrared filter system, an image collecting card, and an image disposal system. The detection device is arranged beside a roller bed which is arranged behind (in front of) a rolling mill; when a hot plate is delivered to the detection system through the roller bed, the CCD camera which is provided with a far infrared filter gains the images of the head of the plate; the image disposal system achieves a smoothening disposal, an image reinforcement disposal, an image cutting disposal, an image morphology disposal, etc. of the gained images so as to gain a shape curve of the head, and fits the curve so as to gain the parameters such as the bent height, the bent curvature, the length of the bent section, etc. of the head of the plate. The invention can eliminate the interference of the steam in the production site to the gained images, the detection speed is fast, the installation of the equipment is simple, the original production process is not changed, and the invention is stable and reliable and suitable for the production sites of medium thick plates and hot continuous rolling.