The invention relates to a method for preparing a Cu:ZnCdS / ZnS quantum dot luminescent material. The method comprises the following steps: preparing precursor solutions from a zinc source, a cadmium source, a copper source and a sulfur source and putting each precursor solution into the same reaction container, removing water and oxygen, heating to react to generate a quantum dot luminescent material with a cubic sphalerite structure, and finally mixing the quantum dot with the zinc precursor solutions to react, thereby obtaining the target quantum dot material with a core-shell structure. Bycontrolling the doping amount, the reaction time and the reaction temperature of copper, passivating the surfaces of the quantum dots and the like, controllable preparation of the quantum dots and adjustability of the light-emitting wavelength are realized. The method has the advantages of simple preparation process, low cost and the like, the preparation cost of the luminescent material is greatly reduced, and the prepared quantum dot is controllable in size and adjustable in luminescent wavelength, and has a relatively good application value in the fields of luminescent devices, solar cells,biomedicine and the like.