The content of cadmium in grain was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS), which provided a reliable basis for the detection of cadmium in grain. The linear range, detection limit, accuracy, stability, recovery rate and detection time of the two methods were compared. The results showed that the detection limit of ICP-MS was lower than GFAAS, and the detection limits of different grains were different. For the reference material of rice flour, the results were 0.490 mg/kg by GFAAS and 0.474 mg/kg by ICP-MS, and all of them were in the range of standard value. Repeated detection of cadmium in different grains, the results by GFAAS were higher than the results by ICP-MS, the relative standard deviation (RSD) of the two methods were less than 10%. The recovery rate of the two methods were between 95%~105%. Compared with GFAAS, ICP-MS has a lower detection limit, a wider linear range and faster analysis which accuracy and stability can also meet the requirements of cadmium detection in grain, and it is a detection method worth promoting application.