A method and an apparatus for selecting a reference tag used for positioning are provided. The method includes: obtaining first signal strength emitted by a reference tag and second signal strength emitted by a tag to be positioned, where the first signal strength and the second signal strength are detected by each radio frequency reader; comparing the first signal strength with the second signal strength to determine a boundary of the radio frequency readers, and dividing a network into a first area and a second area with the boundary; determining an estimated direction of the tag to be positioned relative to the reference tag according to a relative position of the reference tag and the boundary; and according to the estimated direction and according to the specified number of reference tags, selecting a valid reference tag group as the reference tag used for positioning.