Li[Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3]O2 cathode material for lithium ion batteries was prepared by mixing metal hydroxide, (Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3)(OH)2, with 6% excess LiOH followed by calcinations. The (Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3)(OH)2 with secondary particle of about 12μm was prepared by hydroxide co-precipitation. The tap density of the obtained Li[Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3]O2 powder was 2.56±0.21gcm−3. The powder was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), particle size distribution (PSD) and galvanostatic charge–discharge cycling. The XRD pattern of Li[Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3]O2 revealed a well ordered hexagonal layered structure with low cation mixing. Secondary particles with size of 13–14μm and primary particles with size of about 1μm can be identified from the SEM observations. In the voltage range of 2.8–4.3V, the initial discharge capacity of the Li[Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3]O2 electrode was 166.6mAhg−1, and 96.5% of the initial capacity was retained after 50 charge–discharge cycling.