Motion　estimation　is　a　very　time　consuming　part　in　H.264　codec.　In　order　to　reduce　motion　estimation　time,　many　strategies　have　been　used　during　this　process.　Dynamic　search　range　is　one　of　them.　In　this　paper,　based　on　the　analysis　of　the　problems　existed　in　current　algorithm,　we　propose　a　new　strategy　to　predict　motion　estimation　search　range　by　using　the　information　of　image　size,　block　mode　and　QP.　Experiment　results　show　that　the　proposed　algorithm　can　reduce　up　to　16.94%　of　the　motion　estimation　time　and　save　9.15%　of　the　total　encoding　time　only　with　0.001dB　PSNR　loss　and　0.51%　BitRate　increment　comparing　with　existing　DSR　algorithm　in　UMHexagon　Search　algorithm.　In　addition,　this　algorithm　is　very　easy　to　combine　with　other　Motion　Estimation　algorithms　in　JM.　©2009　IEEE.