Abstract: Applying the reference area method, this paper estimated the consolidation potential for cultivated land in Yanqing County. Results show that the non-effective coefficient of cultivated land is 6.14% in average for flat area, and the potential coefficients of cultivated land consolidation are respectively 0.68%, 2.10% and 2.81% for low, middle and high consolidation levels, and the corresponding cultivated land consolidation potentials are 109.29 hm², 337.53 hm² and 451.64 hm². In sloping area, the average non-effective coefficient of cultivated land is 9.95%, the potential coefficients of cultivated land consolidation are 0.70%, 3.03% and 4.20% respectively in low, middle and high consolidation levels, and the corresponding cultivated land consolidation potentials are 90.68 hm², 392.52 hm² and 544.09 hm². The reference area method used for estimating the non-effective coefficient of cultivated land in Yanqing County, the non-effective coefficients of cultivated land both in flat and slopping areas, and the potential coefficients of cultivated land for three different consolidation levels may all be applied for the other similar counties for estimating the cultivated land consolidation potential. The cultivated land consolidation potentials estimated by using two coefficients mentioned above may be used as basic scientific data in Yanqing County for cultivated land consolidation planning and feasible study of land consolidation projects.