The invention discloses an electromagnetic thermal forming method and device for a metal material. The device comprises a pulse current source, a forming die, a forming coil, a coil pressing block anda switch; a to-be-formed sample piece is placed between the forming die and the forming coil, and the pulse current source, the to-be-formed sample piece, the forming coil and the switch are sequentially connected; when the switch is closed, the pulse current source is used for providing the pulse current for the to-be-formed sample piece so as to heat the to-be-formed sample piece, and when theswitch is switched off, the pulse current source is used for providing the pulse current for the forming coil and the to-be-formed sample piece so as to provide the electromagnetic forming force for the to-be-formed sample piece through the forming coil; the forming die is used for restraining the forming shape of the to-be-formed sample piece; and the coil pressing block is used for preventing the situation that the forming coil is affected by the counter acting force and then is bounced. According to the method and the device, the problems that electric conductivity of the metal material isreduced due to the temperature rise, and then the electromagnetic forming force is insufficient and the heating efficiency is low and the like are solved, and meanwhile, the any multi-peak pulse largecurrent source topology which is simple in structure and high in energy utilization rate is provided.