The invention relates to a preparation method of dioctyl adipate. The preparation method includes the steps that 1, adipic acid, isooctyl alcohol and concentrated sulphuric acid are thrown into a reaction kettle, stirred and heated to a boiling reaction under the condition of micro-vacuum 550-590 mmHg, and a boiling reflux state is kept to separate water in the mixture; 2, water is added into a mixture after an esterification reaction, even stirring is performed, then standing layering is performed, and a water layer in the mixture is removed; 3, dealcoholization is performed on a rinsed mixture to obtain crude product dioctyl adipate; 4, a refining agent is added into the crude product after dealcoholization, stirring refining is performed for 1 hour, and mixed liquor is obtained and filtered; 5, the refined mixed liquor is filtered to obtain dioctyl adipate. In the refining step, the color intensity of the product obtained through using the refining agent becomes lower, and dioctyl adipate can serve as a product to be sold without high vacuum refining treatment. The quality of the prepared product completely meets technical index requirements, equipment investment is saved, the production cost is lowered, and the market competitiveness of the product is improved.