The invention discloses a method for preparing 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol monoisobutyrate, which relates to the technical field of organic synthesis. In the invention, isobutylaldehyde is used as a raw material, aldol condensation and Cannizzaro reactions are completed by a one-step reaction process in the presence of a catalyst, and the process adopts sodium alcoholate as the catalyst; and the isobutylaldehyde is used to form alcohol ester-12 in the presence of the sodium alcoholate catalyst, so the complex and high-energy consumption drawbacks of a two-step reaction process using an inorganic alkali as a catalyst are overcome, the drawbacks of toxic catalyst and high quality requirement on the isobutylaldehyde raw material of a one-step reaction process using Ba(OH)2 as a catalyst are overcome, and simple process, high single-pass yield, small catalyst dosage, low energy consumption, safety and environmental protection are realized.