A control method for a four-switch buck-boost converter is provided. The control method adopts four-stage control, and divides the load range into two sections and adopts different control strategies according to a critical load value corresponding to optimal control. In Boost mode, before the critical load, T1 and T2 are kept constant, T3 is a minimum value for realizing soft-switching, and T4 decreases with the increase of the load; when the critical load is reached, T4 drops to 0; and after the critical load, T1, T2, T3 and T increase with the load. In Buck mode, before the critical load, T2 and T3 are kept constant, T1 is a minimum value for realizing soft-switching, and T4 decreases with the increase of the load; when the critical load is reached, T4 drops to 0; and after the critical load, T1, T2, T3 and T increase with the load.