Objective To compare the image quality produced by MR high resolution vessel wall imaging (HR?VWI) and ultrasound (US) in evaluating carotid plaque load. Methods This prospective study enrolled 21 patients with carotid plaques undergoing HR?VWI and subsequent 2D US between August 2016 to January 2017 in Hebei General Hospitial. The plaque thickness (PT), lumen area (LA), wall area (WA) and total vessel area (TVA) of the plaques were measured and normalized wall index (NWI) was calculated on both HR?VWI images and US for those plaques with image quality score≥3 and matching between the two methods. The plaque load index was compared by using the independent sample t test or the non?parametric Wilcoxon test, and the correlation between the indexes was based on the Pearson test. Results Forty?five carotid plaques were matched with HR?VWI and US. There was no significant difference in PT, LA, WA, TVA and NWI detected by HR?VWI and ultrasound (P>0.05). The parameters measured by two methods were correlated (r values were 0.83, 0.85, 0.32, 0.83 and 0.59, P<0.05). Conclusion There is a good consistency between HR?VWI and conventional ultrasound in the measurement of carotid plaque load.