The invention relates to a gradient MCrAlX coating single-target electric arc ion plating one-step preparation method, and belongs to the technical field of coatings, wherein the method can be used for preparing the adhesion layer and the like of anti-high temperature oxidation and hot corrosion coatings, and thermal barrier coatings, MCrAlX:M comprises, but is not limited to, Fe, Co, Ni, Ti, Pt, Zr, W, Nb, B or a combination thereof, X is a rare earth element and comprises, but is not limited to, Y, La, Hf, Ce, Gd, Dy or a combination thereof, and by using the two sputtering phenomenon and by real-timely adjusting the bias voltage during a film plating process, the gradient MCrAlX coating can be obtained from the single MCrAlX target in one step without other processes, wherein the aluminum and the chrome component present the gradient change from the coating surface to the internal. According to the present invention, the high ionization rate of the electric arc ion plating and the coating anti-sputtering under the high bias voltage are utilized, such that the gradient MCrAlX coating can be obtained from the single target, the prepared coating has the compact structure, the process stability and the preparation efficiency are high and are much better than other multiple process combined gradient coating preparation methods, the cost is low, and the method is suitable for industrial application.