Abstract: Mechanisms of several measurement methods for thermal conductivity were summarized and the characteristics of these methods were analyzed through comparing the basic parameters of typical measurement apparatuses set up at home and abroad. The results show that steady-state methods have good accuracy and repeatability in materials with low thermal conductivity, with small measurement range, narrow temperature range, long measurement cycle time and rigid measurement environment. On the contrary, transient methods have great characteristics including large measurement range, wide temperature range, short measurement cycle time and mild environment requirements, but they are poorer in accuracy and repeatability compared with steady-state methods in measuring insulation materials. It is necessary to synthetically consider materials, methods, apparatuses and measurement requirements when choosing measurement method for thermal conductivity.