To provide a method and a device for controlling a horizontal band saw capable of simply calculating the cutting depth, the speed, the cutting length, etc., with excellent accuracy at a low cost.

When a work W is cut by turning and lowering a cutting head 5 having an endless band saw blade BS rotating and traveling around a hinge 7, an approach bar 53 which is provided on an upper part of the cutting head 5 and relatively movable in the vertical direction to the cutting head 5 is lowered by the gravity, and is not lowered any more when a lower end thereof is abutted on the work W. When the cutting head 5 is turned and lowered, and the cutting of the work W is advanced, the approach bar 53 is relatively raised to the cutting head 5. This rise is detected by a movement detector 69, and the rise from an origin is detected as the cutting quantity.