The invention relates to a load type spherical active carbon catalyst and a preparation method thereof, and belongs to the technical field of chemical catalysts. The load type spherical active carbon catalyst is composed of Pt or Pd or two which is/are loaded on the surface of a spherical active carbon carrier with an average diameter of 0.6-1.5mm, a specific surface area of not less than 600m<2>/g and the dust rate of less than 0.5 percent. The preparation method comprises the steps: mixing asphalt and naphthalene, heating, blending, then preparing an asphalt ball by using a suspension method, performing oxidization without melting, carbonizing and activating so as to prepare asphalt-based spherical active carbon, pickling and washing to neutral to obtain a catalyst carrier; and impregnating the carrier in an alcohol water solution containing a metal precursor for loading, reducing with hydrogen or a reducing solution after drying to obtain the catalyst. The load type spherical active carbon catalyst is high in specific surface area; the loaded catalyst is high in metal utilization rate, smooth in surface, uniform in appearance, small in resistance, high in mechanical strength, low in dust rate, long in service life, and relatively high in catalysis activity and stability to formaldehyde at a room temperature.