The invention discloses a preparation method of a liquid-based cell. The preparation method comprises the following steps: step 1, taking a cell smearing device, wherein the cell smearing device comprises a tray, a preparation warehouse fixed on the tray, a glass slide positioned on the lower end surface of the preparation warehouse and used for plugging the lower end of the preparation warehouse, a filter membrane detachably arranged in the preparation warehouse and arranged in the circumferential direction of the preparation warehouse, a filter chamber formed in the preparation warehouse and positioned above the filter membrane and a cleaning chamber formed in the preparation warehouse and positioned under the filter membrane; adding cleaning liquid into the preparation warehouse and enabling all the cleaning liquid to enter the cleaning chamber and the liquid level of the cleaning liquid to be flush with the filer membrane; step 2, taking and adding a mixture of a sample and a preservation solution into the filter chamber, enabling the mixture to pass through the filter membrane to enter the cleaning chamber and enabling a cell to settle to the bottom of the cleaning chamber; step 3, removing the filter membrane as well as impurities on the filter membrane and enabling natural settlement to remove liquid supernatant; adding cleaning liquid, centrifuging and abandoning liquid supernatant; step 4, extracting the glass slide, fixing, dying and sealing. The preparation method has the effect of reducing the cell loss.