The invention discloses a ZigBee sensor network tree route low-expense optimization method. The method comprises four stages of route finding packet sending, route finding packet processing, reply packet sending and reply packet processing. The flooding operation in the ZigBee sensor network tree route optimization process is limited in the aspects of transmitting nodes and hop count range of the route finding packet, so that flooding expense is obviously reduced. Meanwhile, intermediate nodes are allowed to reply the route finding packet, the flooding expense can be further lowered, and the route finding time delay of the optimal route can be reduced. Moreover, the energy optimal route can be selected in the condition of multiple routes by designing a new route length measurement mechanism, namely synthesized hop count, for simultaneously reflecting the hop count and node residual energy, node energy consumption is balanced, and the node survival time and network service life are prolonged.