The droplet transition behavior of laser-arc hybrid surfacing with self-shielded flux-cored wire is studied. The results show that the introduction of laser makes the arc wandering probability significantly reduced, arc space stretched, droplet stress state and transition behavior changed. Laser preposition is more beneficial to droplet transfer and arc stability improvement than laser postposition. The optimal process parameters of laser-arc hybrid surfacing with self-shielded flux-cored wire are laser preposition, laser power of 2 kW, laser-arc distance of +4 mm, light spot diameter of 2 mm and laser-arc angle of 30°. When laser-arc distance is small and laser power is 4 kW, the droplet transition mode is changed from repelled transfer to explosive transfer.