To investigate the comprehensive state of cable forces, an evaluation method considering the temporal and spatial characteristics of the cable forces was proposed. Using the bridge risk matrix decision-making method, the time index and spatial index were taken into a matrix for evaluation and policy decision. The spatial and temporal evaluation levels are divided into four levels: blue grade Ⅰ, yellow grade Ⅱ, orange grade Ⅲ and red grade Ⅳ. Time index considers both the change rate and the amplitude of the cable forces, in which the change rate of cable force was obtained by time series analysis, and the amplitude of cable force was obtained by absolute value of change rate of cable force. Spatial index mainly reflects the deviation degree of cable forces on both sides of cable-stayed bridge caused by unbalance loading and single cable damage, and was characterized by Canberra distance. Taking 7 years of monitoring data from Nanjing No.3 Yangtze River Bridge as an example, twenty long stay cables were evaluated by the temporal and spatial comprehensive evaluation method. The group cables evaluation grade table and evaluation grade distribution map were formed. Results show that monitoring cable forces conform to time series characteristics, and a linear regression model can be used to extract trend terms. The temporal and spatial evaluation levels of the cables are grade Ⅱ and above, and the main reasons are excessively fast change rate of cable force and great differences between the upstream and downstream cable forces. The evaluation distribution map provides more targeted guidance for the manual inspection of stay cables.