Scientific measurement of the payment for ecosystem services was an important basis for promoting the implementation of payment for ecosystem services and realizing the coordinated development between regional economy and ecological conservation. The values of water retention services in 2005, 2010 and 2018 were estimated by the InVEST model and shadow project approach in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Given the differences in value, the output area of water retention value was determined by using the ratio method of ecosystem services supply and demand. The temporal and spatial characteristics of value flow were also analyzed by the breakpoint formula and field strength model. Based on the value transfer amount and the dominant factors defined by the geographical detectors, the payment for ecosystem services model for water retention was constructed to calculate the payment of water retention services in each county of this area. The results showed that:(1) the value of water retention services in 2005, 2010 and 2018 in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region was 1.94, 4.02, and 4.78 billion yuan (RMB), respectively, in which forest ecosystem played a key role. (2) The output areas for water retention value in each basin were mainly distributed in the Taihang Mountains, Yanshan Mountains and Bashang Plateau, and the number of the output areas showed an increasing trend. (3) The values flowing into the consumption area were different in 2005, 2010 and 2018 in each basin. It can be seen that changes in high-value areas were significant, especially in Luanhe Mountains Basin, Beisanhe Mountains Basin, Daqinghe Mountains Basin and Yongdinghe Cetian Reservoir-Sanjiadian Basin, while the distribution changes in the low-value areas were inapparent. In addition, the amount of value transfer under the influence of forest coverage, river systems and topography also showed an increasing trend on the whole. (4) Based on the results calculated by the payment for ecosystem services model, the ratio of payment for water retention services of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei was 2.04:1.61:1, and the payment amount of each county (district) was between 0 and 3.41 million yuan, while the ratio of accepting compensation was 1:0:1.87, and the amount of accepting compensation for each county (district) was between 0 and 5.46 million yuan.