A preparation method for tin-based oxide nanorods includes the following steps of weighing one of rare earth nitrate, rare earth oxide, rare earth ocyhydrate or rare earth carbonate according to stoichiometric ratio of metallic elements in Sn1-xREx02-delta, weighing one of rare earth nitrate, rare earth oxide, rare earth ocyhydrate or rare earth carbonate to prepare nitric acid rare earth solution, then weighing SnC14.5H2O to be dissolved to the prepared nitric acid rare earth solution and obtaining mixed solution, then respectively weighing an appropriate amount of organic fuels, a combustion improver of ammonium nitrate and soluble chloride to be dissolved to the mixed solution; after heating the mixed solution to concentrate the solution to a state of being approximately sticky, heating in microwave mode, and initiating self-spreading burning; roasting the self-spreading burning product in the air, after cooling, washing in ultrasonic mode, filtering, removing constitution ions of the chloride, and drying at 80 DEG C. The preparation method shortens technological process, lowers preparation cost, and is simple in synthesis equipment, low in post-treatment temperature and short in time, and easy for achieving industrialized preparation.