The invention discloses a self calibration method for an image measuring instrument. According to the method, on the basis of the correlation theory of mathematic images, two adjacent images of a tested workpiece before or after the translation in a two-dimensional plane are used as objects, the pixel displacement value is calculated, then, the reading value of a grating ruler during the image collection is combined, the practical physical size displacement value is obtained, finally, the scale factor of the image measuring instrument is obtained according to the ratio of the pixel displacement value to the practical physical size displacement value, and the self calibration of the image measuring instrument is realized. The self calibration method does not need a special-customized high-precision calibration plate and has the advantages of simple and convenient operation and high efficiency, the image measuring instrument can be fast calibrated in any time, and in addition, the cost is saved.