Based on the sliding mode control theory, this paper studies the controller design of a two-dimensional overhead crane. In this paper, a four-order dynamic model of the overhead crane is firstly obtained considering the external disturbance of the trolley end and using some equivalent transformations. Then, according to the obtained dynamic equations, a proportional differential sliding mode controller and a proportional differential integral sliding mode controller are designed respectively, and the sliding mode surface accessibility and the stability of the system of the two controllers are proved by constructing the Lyapunov functions. Finally, this paper designs a group of comparative simulation experiments and a group of verification experiments on the self-made overhead crane test platform. The experimental results show that the two kinds of sliding mode controllers designed can achieve the given control goal of the overhead crane.