A process for preparing a porous metal plate is disclosed which is adapted to use short metal fiber to prepare the plate. The process is capable of providing a porous metal plate which has increased bending strength and porosity, of which the porosity and thickness are controlled as desired and which has a wide and lengthy shape. The so-formed porous metal plate is capable of being extensively utilized, for example, not only as a filter and a sound absorption material but for a fuel cell, a catalyst and the like. It is formed by applying adhesive onto a surface of a substrate, and embedding short metal fibers in the adhesive. The composite thus formed is then pressed, to push over the short metal fibers, and the composite is then sintered. The substrate is a material which is capable of being burned out, or is a metal net, or is a release paper, so that the final plate will be porous throughout.