The invention provides a zinc oxide lightning arrester capacitive current determination method, and belongs to the field of high voltage electric appliances. According to the method, the three-dimensional physical model of a zinc oxide lightning arrester is established by using Ansys finite element software; the potential distribution situation of the zinc oxide lightning arrester in actual operation is acquired through loading; the potential value of each zinc oxide varistor of the zinc oxide lightning arrester is further acquired; and the value of capacitive current flowing through the zinc oxide varistors is acquired according to the potential difference of the two ends of the zinc oxide varistors and the capacitance value of the zinc oxide varistors. According to the method, the value of capacitive current of each zinc oxide varistor can be conveniently obtained for people in a labor-saving way, whether the design of the zinc oxide lightning arrester meets the standards is judged through calculation of potential non-uniform distribution coefficient caused by stray capacitance of the zinc oxide lightning arrester, and the degree of the potential distribution uniformity of the lightning arrester is greatly assessed so that the zinc oxide lightning arrester can be effectively improved. The method has the obvious characteristics of being simple and visual, high in calculation accuracy and clear in data analysis.