The effects of particle size, chemical composition and cycling potential range on the electrochemical properties of micro-sized Sn–Sb electrodes were investigated in terms of initial irreversible capacity, rate-capability and cycling stability. Large particle sized SnSb electrode shows a low initial irreversible capacity and a relatively good cyclic performance when charged/discharged at 100mAhg−1 due to the low specific surface area and loose structural characteristics of SnSb particles. When charged and discharged at high current density, large particle sized SnSb electrode displays a fast capacity fading compared to the small sized one due to the long diffusion distance of Li-ions. The Sn/Sb ratio has effect on the cycling stability of electrodes. Sn-riched and Sb-riched Sn–Sb electrodes exhibit fast capacity decline while sample with pure SnSb intermetallic phase shows a relatively good cycling stability. To increase the lower limit of cycling potential range cannot improve the cyclic performance while to decrease the upper limit to 0.8V can control the cycling stability of SnSb electrode significantly. The Sb component is considered to be the main cause of the capacity fading of Sn–Sb electrode.