Objective To investigate the clinical value of tumor markers combined with MRI in the diagnosis of cervical cancer. Methods Seventy-eight cases of patients with cervical cancer who were admitted to our hospital between April 2012 and June 2015 were enrolled in the study group, and 40 healthy persons were selected as control group at the same time. After admission, the fasting venous blood was collected. The levels of tumor markers squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA), carbohydrate antigen 153 (CA153), carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125), cytokeratin 21-1 (CYFRA211)] were determined. Meanwhile, all patients underwent MRI examination. With the results of pathological biopsy results as the golden standard, the clinical value of tumor markers, MRI and their combined diagnosis of cervical cancer was analyzed. Results The levels of serum SCCA, CA125, CA153 and CYFRA211 in the study group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). ARSI% of cervical cancer was higher than that of normal tissues (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between the two groups in MRSI% (P>0.05). The positive rate of cervical cancer diagnosed by MRI (96.15%) was higher than that by tumor markers (P<0.05). The accuracy of tumor markers combined with MRI in the diagnosis of cervical cancer was higher than that of MRI, but there was no significant difference (P>0.05). Conclusion The levels of serum SCCA, CA125, CA153 and CYFRA21-1 in patients with cervical cancer are significantly higher, and CA125 is the most sensitive, but screening positive rate of tumor markers is lower than MRI. MRI can be used as an preferred means of screening for cervical cancer, and tumor markers can be taken as an adjuvant means.