In order to determinate a safe and economical subsea pipe laying plan efficiently in engineering practice, the penetration depth of dropping anchor is studied. The finite element models with multiple sets of bottom materials and anchors are built by Abaqus. Based on the Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) method, the dynamic response numerical simulation of anchor dropping penetration is carried out, and the simulation results are compared with the existing data of test and empirical formula. The finite element results are consistent with the test data as a whole and therefore are of certain referential value. Compared with the formulas in ASCE and DNV codes, it is found that: under the condition of sand with larger friction angle and clay with larger undrained shear strength, the results of finite element and formula approach each other; as the anchor weight increases, the formula results are more conservative compared with the finite element results.