Hollow nanospheres of mesoporous Co9S8 are successfully synthesized by a facile solvothermal reaction followed with a high-temperature annealing in Ar/H2. These hollow nanoparticles exhibit a reversible capacity of ~1414mAhg−1 after 100 cycles at 100mAg−1. In the course of this cycling, there is a significant capacity recovery, which is associated with enhanced capacitance caused by repeated electro-chemical milling. The growth of a carbon shell on the hollow nanospheres further improves the reversible capacities at high rates, ~896mAhg−1 after 800 cycles at 2Ag−1. The excellent lithium-storage performances shed light on the promising potential of sulfides as a high capacity, high rate and long life anodes.