In order to detect dim the small infrared targets more effectively, a small infrared target detection algorithm based on statistical features and bridge method is proposed by analyzing the difference between the small dim infrared targets in infrared images and their neighborhood backgrounds. The mean value, variance and other characteristics of pixel values are extracted in the sliding window range. According to these statistical characteristics and the bridge method, whether there are small infrared targets in the window range is determined. If there is a small target, its location is recorded, and then the small target area is screened twice. The research results show that the false alarm rate of the proposed algorithm is 58% lower than that of the classical algorithm.