The performance of a single-cell direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) using carbon nanotube-supported Pt–Ru (Pt–Ru/CNT) as an anode catalyst has been investigated. In this study, the Pt–Ru/CNT electrocatalyst was successfully synthesized using a modified polyol approach with a controlled composition very close to 20wt.%Pt–10wt.%Ru, and the anode was prepared by coating Pt–Ru/CNT electrocatalyst on a wet-proof carbon cloth substrate with a metal loading of about 4mgcm−2. A commercial gas diffusion electrode (GDE) with a platinum black loading of 4mgcm−2 obtained from E-TEK was employed as the cathode. The membrane electrode assembly (MEA) was fabricated using Nafion® 117 membrane and the single-cell DMFC was assembled with graphite endplates as current collectors. Experiments were carried out at moderate low temperatures using 1M CH3OH aqueous solution and pure oxygen as reactants. Excellent cell performance was observed. The tested cell significantly outperformed a comparison cell using a commercial anode coated with carbon-supported Pt–Ru (Pt–Ru/C) electrocatalyst of similar composition and loading. High conductivity of carbon nanotube, good catalyst morphology and suitable catalyst composition of the prepared Pt–Ru/CNT electrocatalyst are considered to be some of the key factors leading to enhanced cell performance.