The invention relates to a portable cable local discharge detection device in the technical field of electric power detection. The portable cable local discharge detection device comprises a sensor, a detection terminal and a control module, wherein the input end of the sensor is connected with an electric cable for detection, the output end of the sensor is connected with the detection terminal for transmitting an analog sensing signal, and the control module is connected with the detection terminal for receiving the analog sensing signal and outputting a control instruction and a detection result. The invention has compact structure, convenient mobile detection because a box body is provided with a wheel structure, high working efficiency, higher sensitivity and signal to noise ratio, and can be applied to effectively detecting local discharge of a cross linked polyethylene (XLPE) cable on site by comprehensively applying four detection methods of a high-frequency current method, an ultrahigh frequency method, an ultrasonic method and an infrared temperature method.