Abstract: To achieve measuring stochastic error for the dynamic measurement accuracy of the photoelectric theodolite and to improve detection ability of the photoelectric theodolite, a detection method of stochastic error was developed. Based on Burse-Wolf model, the theoretical equation for the angle of azimuth and elevation was developed. According to the theoretical equation and based on the azimuth angle, the elevation angle and the sampling time of the photoelectric theodolite, the theoretical truth-values of the azimuth angle and the elevation angle were obtained, and the random error was obtained from comparing the theoretical value and the measured value. A novel method for measuring stochastic error for the dynamic measurement accuracy of the photoelectric theodolite was presented.