In order to improve the real-time and accuracy of the target detection, an improved target detection method based on spatiotemporal background subtraction is proposed. The spatiotemporal background model based on the color value and texture feature will be established by video sequence. Then the difference operation between the current data that carry both color intensity and texture feature and the background model will be implemented. When operation result satisfies the threshold, the pixel is labeled as target; otherwise it is considered background. Finally, we take advantage of the difference in image and background to update threshold and background model. Multiple video test results show that the method has low memory complexity, high accuracy, faster operation speed and robustness in the case of only processing gray image.