The invention discloses SnSe square nanosheets and a preparation method thereof, belonging to the technical field of preparation of nanometer materials. The preparation method comprises the following steps: uniformly mixing tin powder and selenium powder, and pressing into a pressing block; arranging the pressing block in a graphite pot, putting the graphite pot into a copper pan anode in a reaction chamber of a direct current arc discharge device, wherein a tungsten rod cathode is opposite to the copper pan anode; introducing circulating cooling water into the cooling wall; carrying out a discharge reaction in the mixed gas of argon and nitrogen, wherein the discharge voltage is 18V, the current is 80-85A, and reacting for 1-2 minutes; and passivating in an argon atmosphere, and collecting the ash black powder to serve as the SnSe square nanosheets on the inner side of the top cover of the condensation wall. The sample purity is high, the crystallinity is high, and the shape and size are uniform; any substrate, template and catalyst are not needed in the preparation process, and the method is environment-friendly; and the method is short in preparation time, low in energy consumption, low in cost and high in repeatability. The prepared product has potential application values in aspects such as solar cell conversion, holographic record and recycled lithium ion batteries.