The invention discloses anhydrous tubular metal hypophosphite and a preparation method thereof, and belongs to the technical fields of halogen-free flame retardants and preparation thereof. A molecular formula of the anhydrous tubular metal hypophosphite is M(H2PO2)n, wherein M is any one of Na, K, Ca, Mg, Al, Zn, Mn, Fe, La or Ce; n is 1, 2 or 3. The preparation method comprises the following steps of firstly dissolving a metal chloride, hypophosphorous acid and a surfactant into an organic solvent, then adding into a polytetrafluoroethylene reaction kettle, raising a temperature, reacting, and finally filtering and washing an obtained product. The anhydrous tubular metal hypophosphite provided by the invention has good heat stability, further, does not contain water, cannot cause the degradation of a macromolecular material in a processing process of modifying the macromolecular material, is of a tubular structure, and not only can be used for improving the flame retarding performance of the macromolecular material, but also can be used for ameliorating the mechanical performance of the macromolecular material; the preparation method is simple, and the anhydrous tubular metal hypophosphite is applicable to most macromolecular material, and has a wide market application prospect.