The invention discloses a Cr<3+>-doped germanium-containing garnet phase broadband near-infrared fluorescent powder and a preparation method thereof, and belongs to the technical field of near-infrared luminescence. The germanium-containing garnet phase fluorescent powder is prepared by a high-temperature solid-phase method, and the preparation method comprises the following steps: grinding and uniformly mixing solid powder raw materials, calcining at 1200-1500 DEG C for 1-3 times, and finally grinding to obtain a final product. On the basis of a garnet structure with stable chemical properties and high luminous efficiency, the garnet phase structure fluorescent powder containing elements such as germanium, zinc, magnesium, calcium, strontium and the like is constructed in a weak crystal field environment, so that a Cr<3+> emission peak is red-shifted to a near-infrared region. The obtained garnet fluorescent powder realizes red shift of a Cr<3+> emission peak, has excellent propertiesof near-infrared broadband luminescence, wide emission range (650-850 nm), capability of being excited by blue light, high emission efficiency and the like, and is low in raw material cost, simple and convenient in operation method and capable of being produced on a large scale.