Abstract: Rare earth materials are widely used in various fields, such as energy conservation and environmental protection, defense and military industry, high-tech materials, etc. In this paper, the principle and characteristics of the mechanical ball milling method were introduced, and the research status of this method in the preparation of ultrafine rare earth oxide powders, rare earth functional materials and rare earth alloy materials was carefully analyzed, respectively. Finally, the prospect of the mechanical ball milling method for the preparation of rare earth materials and its research direction was also pointed out, respectively.