Disclosed by the present application is a method for producing methyl acetate by means of the carbonylation of dimethyl ether. The method comprises: passing dimethyl ether and a feed gas comprising carbon monoxide through a reactor loaded with a solid acid catalyst for reaction so as to produce methyl acetate, the molar ratio of carbon monoxide to dimethyl ether being 0.05:1-0.5:1. The described method has the advantages of a low molar ratio of carbon monoxide to dimethy1 ether, a high conversion rate of carbon monoxide, a small gas circulation amount, low operation costs and so on.