Land consolidation can excavate the potential of arable land quality effectively. In order to calculate the potential of arable land quality scientifically and reasonably and guide corresponding land consolidation projects, a new method was proposed based on limiting factors and hot spot analysis. Zhuozhou city was chosen as the study area for experiment with space grid as basic unit. Firstly, element association method was used to analyze factors influencing arable land natural quality. Secondly, an index system was established to response to arable land utilization level and calculated one by one, and then hot spot analysis was adopted to find low values cluster area. Thirdly, land consolidation projects were carried out to figure out the influence of changes of limiting factors and improvement of indicator values. Eventually, potential of arable land quality was calculated to examine the effects after limiting factors changing and indicator values improving. The results showed that physical quality grade index could be improved by an average of 408. Irrigation was the top limiting factor of arable land natural quality and the overall utilization levels of arable lands in Zhuozhou city were varied widely with the characteristics of both eastern and western areas being higher than that of the central region. It was put forward to carry out water-saving irrigation in low irrigation areas and to carry out corresponding measures in cold spot cluster areas, such as building arable land roads, arable land shelterbelts and irrigation systems. Statistically significant cold spots of arable land space form score located in north-central areas, these areas should strengthen arable land leveling. Statistically significant cold spots of rural roads located in northern and western areas, these areas should be recommended to strengthen the construction of roads. Statistically significant cold spots of ditches throughout the central region of Zhuozhou, from south to north, these areas should strengthen the construction of ditch. The method proposed was helpful to determine the limiting factors，divide zones of arable land consolidation and provide relevant measures. The result was an important gist for regional land consolidation planning, land consolidation project as well as land consolidation zone dividing.