The present invention relates to a zinc-aluminum layered material and a preparation method thereof, wherein the main composition of the zinc-aluminum layered material is represented by a chemical formula of ZnxAly(OH)z(CO3)m.nH2O, wherein x is a number selected from 0.55-0.75, y is a number selected from 0.13-0.7, z is a number selected from 1.55-2.50, m is a number selected from 0.15-0.20, n is a number selected from 1-10, the x/y value is a number selected from 0.75-5.70, and the specific surface area is 150-280 m<2>/g. According to the present invention, the zinc-aluminum hydrotalcite-like layered material is prepared under the non-constant pH value by alternately titrating the aluminum-containing sodium carbonate solution and the zinc-containing solution; and the prepared material has characteristics of large specific surface area and uniform zinc-aluminum dispersing, such that the prepared can be used for the catalysis material after the low temperature calcination of the prepared material as the precursor.