The invention relates to a catalyst for hydrogenation to prepare isopropyl benzene to mainly solve the technical problems of a low AMS conversion rate of catalysts and low selectivity of isopropyl benzene in the prior art. The adopted catalyst for the hydrogenation to prepare isopropyl benzene comprises a carrier and active components, and the active components include 0.01-10 g/L of metallic palladium or an oxide thereof and 0-60 g/L of alkaline earth metal or an oxide thereof. The technical scheme solves the technical problems well and can be used in a hydrogenation reaction of alpha-methylstyrene to prepare isopropyl benzene.