Objective To compare the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging diffusion weighted imaging (MRI-DWI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) for orbital tumors. Methods The clinical data of 80 patients with orbital tumors in Liaocheng Eye Hospital were collected between June 2019 and December 2020. They were divided into benign group (n=23) and malignant group (n=57). MRI-DWI and DCE-MRI parameters were compared between the two groups. Taking pathological results as the golden standard, diagnostic efficiency of MRI-DWI and DCE-MRI for orbital tumors was analyzed. Results The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in malignant group was lower than that in benign group, while extravascular extracellular volume fraction (Ve), rate constant (Kep) and volume transfer constant (Ktrans) were higher than those in benign group (P＜0.05). The differences in time-intensity curve (TIC) classifications between the two groups were statistically significant (P＜0.05). The difference in accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for the diagnosis of orbital tumors between MRI-DWI and DCE-MRI was not statistically significant (P＞0.05). Conclusion Both MRI-DWI and DCE-MRI can effectively diagnose orbital tumors. Clinically, quantitative indexes and images should be comprehensively evaluated to improve diagnosis accuracy.