The invention discloses a lithium ion battery cathode material and a preparing method thereof, and particularly relates to a phosphate-coated lithium ion battery cathode material and a preparing method thereof. The chemical constitution of a coating layer is M1M2PO4, wherein the M1 is Ni, Mn and Co, and the M2 is Cr, Al, Mg, Fe, Ti, V, Ga, Cu, Zn, Be, Sc, Ca, Sr, Ba, Zr, Li and La. The cathode material can be normally used under a high cut-off voltage for charging (4.4-4.7 V), and has high thermal stability. A lithium ion battery using the cathode material has a higher volume energy density and better cycle performance. The preparing method of the cathode material includes mixing a cathode material core and a salt solution at least comprising Ni, Mn or Co, adding a phosphate, reacting, forming the phosphate coating layer at least comprising the Ni, the Mn or the Co on at least a part of the surface of the cathode material, and performing heat treatment to obtain the lithium ion battery cathode material.