A conventional line hyperbolic function model is usually used for calculation of phase quantity of power frequency steady state quantity. The model is improved by utilizing Laplace transformation. With combination of a zero mode network after a distribution network cable single-phase ground fault, a single-end distance measuring algorithm utilizing the transient main frequency component is provided, and solving is performed via a frequency domain mode and a time domain mode respectively so that fault distance is obtained. Influence of transition resistance is eliminated by the frequency domain mode, and result optimization is performed by the time domain mode by utilizing redundancy of sampling points. Correctness of the method is verified by a large amount of EMTP simulation experiment results without influence of factors, such as transition resistance, neutral point operation modes, fault initial angles, etc., the maximum relative error of distance measurement is less than 0.231%, an average distance measurement error is less than 20m, and thus practical engineering requirements can be met.