The invention provides a preparation method of an activated carbon and alumina composite material, which comprises following steps: phenol and formalin are mixed in proportion, heated and stirred, so as to enable the phenol to be completely dissolved; aluminum hydroxide is added to an obtained processed solution to react, and then an acid solution is added to the processed solution to neutralize the processed solution, so that the reaction is stopped; the mixed solution is cooled to room temperature, decompressed and dehydrated, so as to obtain a liquid mixture; a foaming agent and a curing agent are added to the liquid mixture, and the liquid mixture is rapidly stirred, foamed and cured, so as to obtain a foam body; and the foam body is cut into a certain shape, put into a heating furnace to be carbonized and activated, and then the activated carbon and alumina composite material can be obtained. By adopting the preparation method, two materials, namely activated carbon and alumina can be tightly combined together, and the prepared activated carbon is firmly and evenly fixed in the activated alumina, so that the deficiencies of low strength and short service life of the activated carbon are corrected; and the preparation method is simple and practicable, requires low cost and is suitable for large-scale industrial production.