Reasonable selection of excavation footage is one of the tunnel key points ,which affects the safety and efficiency of tunnel construction. Compared with the tested data of Yangjiaping tunnel, the most realistic rock dilatancy angle is acquired by numerical simulation with a software ABAQUS. A tunnel excavation numerical model considering dilatancy angle based on Mohr-Coulomb model is built, then the deformation and stress distribution of tunnel are analyzed under different excavation footages, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5 m. Simulation results show that the numerical modeling results considered dilatancy angle is in good agreement with tested results; when the wall rock is supported with bolt support system, and choosing the excavation footage of 3.0 m, better safety and efficiency can be reached; but the deformation of tunnel roof within the scope of 5.0 meters from the excavation working face shall be paid more attention to.