Abstract: In order to estimate the land consolidation potential of rural residential and carry out the work of land consolidation in western underdeveloped regions scientifically and effectively, Beiyuan Region in Linxia County was as the case in the study, and a comprehensive evaluation index system was established with 13 indexes, including nature, economy, society, land utilization and homestead utilization that influenced the consolidation potential, and the index weight was determined by using the analytical hierarchy process, and those index values were normalized for the comprehensive correction coefficient. The realistic potential of rural residential land consolidation in Beiyuan Region was obtained by correcting the theoretical potential for the theoretical growth rate of cultivated land. The results showed that: the rural residential land consolidation potential of Beiyuan Region in Linxia County was different in different regions, and the overall potential was comparatively large; the comprehensive correction coefficient ranged from 0.34 to 0.76; the rural residential land consolidation potential of Beiyuan Region in 2015 and 2020 were 312.82 hm² and 293.76 hm², and the theoretical growth rate of cultivated land were 14.84% and 13.87%; the realistic potential decreased gradually with the growth of agricultural population; combining with the project of high standard basic farmland in the study area, the rural residential land consolidation work should be carried out according to different realistic potential in different area to improve the efficiency of consolidation, increase the effective area of arable land, and promote the construction of high standards basic farmland.