The invention discloses a preparation method of an asphalt hard carbon material for a lithium ion battery cathode. The method includes the steps of: taking asphalt with a softening point of 200-280DEG C as the raw material, crushing it and adding it into a tube furnace, in an air atmosphere, raising the temperature to 250-350DEG C, carrying out curing, adding the cured asphalt powder into a carbonization furnace, and in a nitrogen atmosphere, raising the temperature to 700-1300DEGC to perform a carbonization treatment, thus obtaining the asphalt hard carbon material. The method provided in the invention has the advantages that it is simple and practical, green and environment-friendly, and is easy for large-scale industrial production. And the prepared asphalt hard carbon material as a lithium ion battery cathode material has high reversible capacity, good large current performance and excellent cycle performance.