Objective To evaluate the value of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) in the diagnosis of clinical stage of ovarian cancer. Methods The clinical data of 50 patients with ovarian cancer (ovarian cancer group) and 50 healthy volunteers (healthy group) who were admitted to our hospital during April 2014 to April 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Both groups were examined with DCE-MRI and DWI. The DCE-MRI quantitative parameters [volume transfer constant (Ktrans) and rate constant (Kep), extravascular extracellular volume fraction (Ve)] and DWI apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were compared between the two groups and between patients with different clinical stages of ovarian cancer. The diagnostic efficacy [area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, Jorden index] of the above parameters in the diagnosis of clinical stage of ovarian cancer was evaluated with ROC. Results The ADC value of ovarian cancer group was significantly lower, and the DCE-MRI quantitative parameters (Ktrans, Kep, Ve) were significantly higher than those of the control group (P<0.05). There were significant differences in DCE-MRI parameters and ADC values between patients with different clinical stages of ovarian cancer (P<0.05). The clinical stage of ovarian cancer was positively correlated with DCE-MRI quantitative parameters (Ktrans, Kep, Ve) (r=0.523, 0.483, 0.356, P<0.05), and negatively correlated with ADC values (r=-0.359, P<0.05). The specificities and sensitivities of Ktrans, Kep, Ve and ADC in the diagnosis of clinical stage of ovarian cancer were 92.6%, 83.7%, 70.5%, 89.2% and 88.9%, 91.6%, 53.4%, 92.4%, respectively. Conclusion Both DCE-MRI and DWI have high clinical value in the diagnosis of clinical stage of ovarian cancer.