The invention belongs to the field of plant purification, and provides a method for extracting lutein from marigolds. The method includes the following steps: (1) adding dry marigold powder and organic solvents into an extraction container for stirring and extracting; (2) filtering the mixture in the extraction container, collecting filtrate, and subjecting the filtrate to decompressed concentration to obtain a lutein ointment; (3) adding a potassium hydroxide ethanol solution and high-temperature alkaline lipases into the lutein ointment, and after stirring and dissolving, transferring the lutein ointment into a reactor for saponification; (4) standing saponification liquid at a low temperature to precipitate out lutein crystals, performing filtration, washing filter cakes by distilled water, and drying the filter cakes to obtain the high-purity lutein crystals, wherein the purity of the lutein in the final products ranges from 70% to 90%. The method has the advantages that the problems of complicated extraction process, high solvent toxicity and low product purity of existing lutein are solved; the method has a simple process, high operability and high product purity, and is suitable for industrial mass production.