The invention discloses a tone mapping method for a high dynamic range image. The method comprises the following steps of: firstly, reading the high dynamic range image, and acquiring a log-domain brightness image of the high dynamic range image; secondly, estimating illumination components of the high dynamic range image by multi-scale weighted least squares (WLS) filtering to avoid the phenomenon of halo generated at a high light and shade contrast place; thirdly, recovering brightness components of the high dynamic range image by using a multi-scale Retinex method, eliminating the gray of a 1% part of each of two poles to prevent under-exposure and over-exposure, and adjusting the brightness degree of the image according to a self-adaptive adjustment function; and finally, recovering the color of the high dynamic range image by introducing an index control saturation method. The tone mapping method for the high dynamic range image is applicable to display and output of the high dynamic range image on low dynamic range equipment, generation of the halo can be avoided, and the displayed image has the characteristics of high contrast and good detail reproduction effect.