The invention discloses an infrared image detail enhancement method, which comprises the following steps that: adopting a platform histogram equalization algorithm to carry out compression processing on an original infrared image I to obtain image tone data IB; according to the original infrared image I, designing a detail preserving filter for the original infrared image I, and utilizing the detail preserving filter to carry out detail preserving filtering on the original infrared image I to obtain image detail data ID; calculating the amplification coefficient of the image detail data ID, processing the image detail data ID according to the amplification coefficient and a preset detail gain factor G to obtain final detail data I'D, wherein the detail gain factor G is used for controlling image detail proportion weight; and according to a formula IF=IB+G*I'D, carrying out fusion on the image tone data IB and the final detail data I'D to obtain a combined infrared image IF, and processing a non-positive and overflow numerical part in the combined infrared image IF to obtain an output infrared image I'F. By use of the method, the global comparison of the infrared image is kept, local details are enhanced, and an image display effect is improved. In addition, an algorithm is low in complexity and easy in implementation in real time.