The invention discloses a method for preparing a SiC ceramic-based composite material from a spongy silicon carbide nanofiber preform. The method comprises: filling a glass tube with a spongy SiCnf material, and pre-compressing the spongy SiCnf material by external force to obtain a pre-compressed body; soaking the pre-compressed body in a low-concentration phenolic resin solution, taking out the pre-compressed body after soaking, drying the pre-compressed body to be half-dry, putting the pre-compressed body into a mold, carrying out pressing, drying, cracking, and repeating for multiple times; carrying out vacuum impregnation with a PCS solution, taking out the product, carrying out drying and cracking, and repeating for multiple times; after completely cooling, carrying out vacuum impregnation with a high-concentration phenolic resin solution, carrying out drying and cracking, and repeating for multiple times; and placing the above in a crucible, uniformly covering the surface with Si powder, and then firing. According to the invention, the characteristics of high strength, wear resistance, corrosion resistance and the like of SiC ceramic are retained, and the composite material also has the advantages of low density, high toughness and stable high-temperature performance, so that preparation of the SiCnf/SiC composite material with high volume fraction, high compact network structure, low porosity and low residual silicon is realized, and the composite material has excellent mechanical properties of a SiCnf reinforcement.