The invention provides a transformer positioning method based on time different positioning, and the method comprises the following steps: determining an antenna arrangement region, determining an inscribed circle in the antenna arrangement region, enabling a first antenna and a second antenna to be arranged at two ends of one diameter of the inscribed circle, enabling a third antenna to be arranged at the center of the inscribed circle, and forming an antenna array, wherein the antenna array can rotate around the circle center; calculating a first time difference from a partial discharge source to the first and third antennas and a second time difference from a partial discharge source to the second and third antennas according to the partial discharge pulses received by the first, second and third antennas, carrying out the plane two-dimensional positioning according to the first and second time differences, and obtaining an initial positioning point; rotating the antenna array, and enabling a connection line of the initial positioning point and the third antenna to be perpendicular to a connection line of the first and second antennas, carrying out precise positioning again according to the first and second time differences, and obtaining a target positioning point. The method is precise in positioning, and is easy for popularization.