It is a very fine substitutable energy technology to synthesize ethanol from biomass-derived syngas. This paper summarized the development of preparing ethanol from syngas, and especially elaborated on the research status of catalysts for the process. Based on the relative researches on the reaction mechanism, structure and performance of the catalysts, the optimumdesign of catalysts with high activity was presented in this review, which set the theoretical and application foundation for the industrial production of ethanol from syngas.