In order to solve the problems of Cuckoo Search (CS) algorithm including low optimizing accuracy and weak local search ability, an improved CS algorithm with differential evolution strategy was presented. The individual variation was completed in the algorithm before population with two weighted differences increased on its individuals entering the next iteration, then crossover operation and select operation were performed to obtain optimal individual, which making the CS algorithm lack of mutation mechanism have the variation mechanism, so as to increase the diversity of the CS algorithm, avoid individual species into local optimum and enhance the global optimization ability. The algorithm was put through several classical test functions and a typical application example. The simulation results show that the new algorithm has better global searching ability, and the convergence precision, convergence speed and optimization success rate are significantly better than those of the basic CS algorithm.