Reduced graphene oxide/tin oxide composite is prepared by homogenous coprecipitation. Characterizations show that tin oxide particles are anchored uniformly on the surface of reduced graphene oxide platelets. As an anode material for Li ion batteries, it has 2140mAhg−1 and 1080mAhg−1 capacities for the first discharge and charge, respectively, which is more than the theoretical capacity of tin oxide, and has good capacity retention with a capacity of 649mAhg−1 after 30 cycles. The simple synthesis method can be readily adapted to prepare other composites containing reduced graphene oxide as a conducting additive that, in addition to supporting metal oxide nanoparticles, can also provide additional Li binding sites to, perhaps, further enhance capacity.