The invention belongs to the technical field of preparation of transition metal oxides and relates to a preparation method of Cu2O nanocrystalline cubes and hollow polyhedrons to be applied to preparation occasions of catalytic materials, antifouling paint, insecticides as well as various copper salts, analytical reagents, red glass, copper plating and copper plating alloy solutions. The problem about industrial preparation of Cu2O nanocrystalline cubes and hollow polyhedrons is solved, and synthesized nanocrystals have good photocatalytic performance, can quickly adsorb azo dyes, are easy toseparate and have a good detection effect on nitrobenzene in a Na2SO4 solution. Firstly, copper acetate monohydrate and sodium hydroxide are subjected to a reaction, sodium dodecyl sulfate is used asa surfactant and a stabilizer, deionized water and a hydrazine hydrate aqueous solution in different volume ratios are added, and the Cu2O nanocrystalline cubes and hollow polyhedrons are prepared. The preparation technology is simple, the principle is reliable, the preparation cost is low, and products are high in purity, good in performance, wide in application range and environmentally friendlyin use.