A method for transferring a carbon nanotube array includes providing a substitute substrate, a growing substrate, and a carbon nanotube array. The carbon nanotube array is grown on the growing substrate. A carbon nanotube structure can be drawn from the carbon nanotube array. The carbon nanotube structure includes carbon nanotube segments joined end-to-end. The carbon nanotube array is transferred from the growing substrate onto the substitute substrate. During transfer, the structural integrity of the carbon nanotube array is maintained.