A series of hydro-mechanical coupling tests were carried out on the sandstone in the aquifer of Xiangyun Phosphate Mine, Hubei Province. The influence of confining pressure and pore water pressure on rock deformation and strength characteristics is discussed. The results show that the trend of stress-strain curves of sandstone specimens under the hydro-mechanical coupling is basically the same. The axial strain-stress curves have experienced five stages: compression closure stage, linear elastic stage, stable crack propagation stage, unstable crack development stage and post-peak residual stage. The peak axial strain of the specimen is negatively correlated with the pore water pressure and positively correlated with the confining pressure, while the peak circumferential strain and volumetric strain fluctuate up and down with the increase of pore water pressure. The peak deviator stress, residual deviator stress and initial dilatancy deviator stress of sandstone have a linear positive correlation with pore water pressure, and a negative correlation with confining pressure. The research results show the influence rule and degree of groundwater on the mechanical properties of sandstone of Xiangyun Phosphate Mine , which can provide reference for the stability analysis of sandstone in the mining area.