A highly efficient three-dimensional image acquisition method based on multi-mode composite encoding and epipolar constraint, respectively using a fast imaging mode or a high-precision imaging mode, wherein in the fast imaging mode, two phase maps having different frequencies are obtained by four stripe gratings, and a high-frequency absolute phase is obtained by means of the epipolar constraint and a left-right consistency check, and the three-dimensional image is obtained by means of a mapping relationship between the phase and three-dimensional coordinates; and in the high precision imaging mode, two phases having different frequencies are obtained by means of N+2 stripe gratings, a low-frequency absolute phase is obtained by the epipolar constraint, and the unwrapping of a high-frequency phase is assisted by means of the low-frequency absolute phase, so as to obtain the high-frequency absolute phase, and finally, the three-dimensional image is obtained by the mapping relationship between the phase and the three-dimensional coordinates. In this way, the imaging efficiency is ensured, and the imaging precision is improved.