The severe problem in improving the positioning precision of a permanent magnet linear synchronous motor (PMLSM) is the large detent farce caused by the permanent magnet arrangement. It is generally an undesired effect that contributes to the torque ripple, vibration and noise of machine. The detent force is arisen from the difference of the position of a permanent magnet end and a tooth position. In this paper, the four methods to reduce detent force were studied and analyzed. The methods are adjusting the width of permanent magnet, varying the shape of armature teeth, relocating the permanent magnet, and adjusting the width of permanent magnet and relocating the permanent magnet at the same time. To analyze the detent farce according to flour methods, a two-dimensional Finite Element Analysis [FEA] was used and we compared with the ratio of reduction of the detent farce according to the flour methods.