Abstract: Conventional tank detection methods are commonly disadvantageous with long measurement time, high work intensity, high detection cost, low measurement accuracy and so on. In this paper, a kind of tank deformation detection method based on three-dimensional laser scanning technology was put forward. Fitting calculation was performed on the wall plate radius, ovality and inclination of the tank using the three-dimensional point cloud data obtained from tests and Matlab program. Then, the deformation of oil tank was calculated and analyzed from three aspects, i.e., horizontal direction, vertical direction and local area on the tank wall. It is indicated that three-dimensional laser scanning method can present the deformation of the tank intuitively and quantitatively. Finally, repeatability and reproducibility tests were carried out. It is demonstrated that the standard deviations of the wall plate radius, ovality and inclination measured in the tests are all within the acceptable range, verifying the feasibility and accuracy of three-dimensional laser scanning method for tank deformation detection. It provides a quicker and more accurate new method for tank deformation detection.