Abstract: The upwelling area of artificial reefs is the main factor of vertical mixing, exchange and circulation of water in the flow field area, which is key to realize the function of artificial reefs. This study proposes three performance indicators that represent the ability of the flow field to evaluate and accurately locate the upwelling area, so as to plan the unit artificial reef construction mode rationally. This results show that the relative volume efficiency index of the four kinds of throw amount is optimal at the laying distance of 0–1.5 S_la (Side length of artificial reef). When the laying distance was 0–1.5 S_la and the throw amount was 432 m³, the average relative velocity index was the highest. Higher velocity contribution rate of unit volume index was observed at 0 and 1.5 S_la. The relative area of the 1.0–3.0 S_la laying distance was greater, and the corresponding relative height of area was basically the same (0.5–1.0). Taking the difference of the action modes of upwelling in different seas as starting point, new ideas for determining the upwelling area are pointed out, and the method of determining the optimal unit artificial reefs construction mode based on the optimal effect of the upwelling flow field is proposed.