Accurate division of cantilever machine has important significance to its widely use in the construction of surrounding rock. The traditional construction of surrounding rock classification is mostly based on the stability of surrounding rock. The complexity, dynamic and nonlinear characteristics of cantilever construction of the machine make it not applicable to traditional surrounding rock classification.Hence, a set of cantilever machine construction surrounding rock classification method based on driving performance is established. First, taking Guiyang metro line 1 as the engineering background, the time attenuation law of forward velocity and the main geological factors affecting the utilization rate of cantilever roadheader are analyzed respectively, and the stratum adaptability grading and scoring method is established. Second, on the basis of the existing Q classification system, the BQm model of surrounding rock adaptability classification of cantilever roadheading machine is proposed. Drilling index RPI and tool life index CLI are adopted to modify the model, and the grading and scoring method of construction tunneling ability is established. Finally, comprehensively considering the grading method of stratum adaptability of surrounding rock and the grading method of tunneling ability, and taking the advance speed AR as the index, the construction surrounding rock classification method based on tunneling performance of cantilever roadheader is established. The results show that the method established can realize the prediction of construction speed AR, so as to effectively predict the tunneling performance, save the cost of tunnel excavation, improve the construction efficiency, and provide scientific reference for the establishment of cantilever tunneling machine construction surrounding rock classification method with general applicability.