Abstract: The energy consumption processes of pneumatic actuator and electrical actuator were analyzed. A calculation model of the energy consumption for pneumatic actuators was proposed. And two sets of actuators experimental system for pneumatic actuator and electrical actuator were built up. The large quantities of the experimental data were received from the energy consumption experiments of two types of actuator. The main results were gained through the analysis experimental data :①The pneumatic actuator is more energy-efficient than the electrical actuator on the condition of maintaining the load for a long time or the condition of unfrequent actuation. However, the electrical actuator is more energyefficient than the pneumatic actuator on the condition of frequent actuation. ②In a variety of operating conditions, the running power of the pneumatic actuator fluctuates slightly and the running power of the electric actuator has a great fluctuation.