The invention discloses a method for preparing 1,1,1,3,3-pentachlorobutane. According to the method, carbon tetrachloride and 2-chloropropene have a telomerization reaction through a telomerization catalyst to prepare 1,1,1,3,3-pentachlorobutane, wherein the reaction temperature ranges from 25 DEG C to 100 DEG C, and the reaction time ranges from 0.5 h to 5 h. The telomerization catalyst is prepared from a main catalyst, an auxiliary catalyst and an organic active agent, wherein halogenated copper salt or halogenated iron salt serves as the main catalyst, alkyl phosphate or diisopropyl phosphate or organic tertiary amine serves as the auxiliary catalyst, azodiisobutyronitrile, 2,2-azobis(4-methoxy-2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile), 1,1-azo-Biscyclohexanecarbonitrile, ascorbic acid, 2,3,4,5,6-5-hydroxy aldehyde, phenylhydrazine or metoxyphenol serves as the organic active agent, and the molar ratio of the main catalyst to the auxiliary catalyst to the organic active agent is 1:(0.5-20):(0.1-20). The telomerization catalyst has the advantages of being mild in reaction conditions and stable in air and can be used for catalyzing the telomerization reaction between carbon tetrachloride and 2-chloropropene to prepare 1,1,1,3,3-pentachlorobutane.