The invention discloses a breeding method for tetraploid maize. The breeding method comprises the steps of seed selection, seed germination culture, mutagenesis and seedling culture, wherein the mutagenesis step adopts chemical mutagenesis; the mutagenesis method of a maize tetraploid is high in mutagenesis success rate, and free of seedling rotting. A mutagen adopted in chemical mutagenesis comprises a mixture of colchicine, heteroauxin, periethylenenaphthalene, ethyl methanesulfonate, ethylenimine, nitroso-ethyl-urethane, nitroso-methyl-urethane, diethyl sulphate, azaserine, and mitomycin C. The mutagenesis method of the maize tetraploid is high in mutagenesis success rate, and free of seedling rotting, and has a wide market prospect; the chemical mutagen adopted in the mutagenesis method is obtained via precise proportioning, and can realize accurate induction of tetraploid maize; the treated maize is high in yield, short in growth cycle, and has competitive advantage; the breeding method is simple to operate, and easy for wide-range popularization.