A comprehensive and systematic assessment of the impact of the dual-pilot policy on the high-quality development of urban economies plays an important role in formulating scientific and effective urban development strategies and promoting green transformation and high-quality development of the economy. Based on the panel data of 276 cities in China from 2005 to 2021, the article used a multi-period double-difference model to explore the impact of the dual-pilot policy of low-carbon cities and innovative cities on the high-quality development of urban economy. The study found that: (1) the implementation of the dual-pilot policy significantly had significantly promoted the economic high-quality development of the pilot cities, and the dual-pilot policy had a more significant effect on the enhancement of urban economic high-quality development compared with the single-pilot. (2) The mechanism analysis showed that green technology innovation, industrial structure adjustment and entrepreneurial activity played a mediator role in the impact of the dual-pilot on the high-quality development of the urban economy. (3) The spatial effect showed that the dual-pilot policy not only promoted the high-quality economic development of the region, but also had a positive spillover effect on the high-quality economic development of the neighbouring regions. (4) The heterogeneity analysis showed that the dual-pilot policy promoted the high-quality economic development of the eastern cities, large-scale cities, and non-resource-based cities more strongly. Therefore, the Government should continue to promote and optimize the dual-pilot policy, give full play to policy synergies, and plan the policy layout scientifically and rationally in accordance with the characteristics of the city, so as to promote the high-quality development of the urban economy.