Abstract: In order to analyze the applicability of the heavy metal pollution assessment methods of different sediments, sediments from the rivers and lakes in Yunnan province were used as research objects. The concentrations of As、Hg、Cr、Cu、Cd、Pb and Zn in sediments samples were measured. The single pollution index method, Nemerow comprehensive index method, geo-accumulation index method, and the pollution load index method were used to analyze the pollution degree of heavy metals in sediments, and Hakanson potential ecological risk assessment method was adopted to evaluate the ecological risk of heavy metals. The advantages and disadvantages of different evaluation methods and their application scope were discussed to provide the reference for selecting the similar evaluation methods.