Capacitive　power　transfer　(CPT)　technique　has　the　advantages　of　negligible　eddy-current　loss,　low　cost　and　low　weight,　and　so　on.　The　circuit　theory　is　currently　used　to　model　the　CPT　system　to　analyze　its　transfer　characteristics,　but　the　order　of　the　circuit　model　is　high　and　the　analytical　solution　is　complex.　Coupled-mode　theory　model　is　a　universal　model　that　can　be　used　to　model　coupled　systems　with　low　order　and　simple　calculation.　However,　the　coupled-mode　theory　has　not　been　used　to　model　the　CPT　system,　and　its　applicability　in　the　CPT　system　has　not　been　analyzed.　Therefore,　this　paper　analyzes　the　coupled-mode　theory　model　of　the　CPT　system.　Firstly,　the　general　coupled-mode　model　of　the　CPT　system　is　derived　from　the　circuit　theory,　and　the　relationship　between　coupled-mode　parameters　and　circuit　parameters　are　analyzed.　Theoretical　analysis　shows　that　the　coupled-mode　theory　model　is　equivalent　to　the　circuit　model　when　the　coupling　capacitance　is　far　less　than　the　compensation　capacitance　and　the　natural　resonance　frequencies　of　the　transmitter　and　receiver　are　close.　Then,　the　transfer　efficiency　and　power　of　CPT　are　also　deduced　based　on　the　coupled-mode　theory　model.　Finally,　the　simulated　and　experimental　results　verify　the　correctness　of　the　theoretical　analysis　and　the　effectiveness　of　the　coupled-mode　theory　model　of　the　CPT　system.　©　2023,　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　license　to　Springer　Nature　Singapore　Pte　Ltd.