A three-dimensional (3D) nanostructure composed of ternary polyaniline/SnO2/graphene (SnO2@PANI/rGO) nanohybrids were successfully developed and prepared as anode materials for lithium ion batteries (LIBs) by a simple dip-coating of SnO2@polyaniline (SnO2@PANI) and graphene dispersion on Cu foam. In such smart nanostructures, polyaniline (PANI) acts as the conductive matrix as well as a good binding agent of SnO2 nanoparticles and graphene sheets, greatly improving the rate performance to a great extent. The as-prepared ternary nanohybrids exhibit a high reversible specific capacity of 772mAhg−1 at 100mAg−1 with excellent rate capability (268mAhg−1 at 1000mAg−1), more significantly, after 100 cycles at 100mAg−1, our ternary nanohybrids still maintain a high specific capacity of 749mAhg−1, which is much better than SnO2/rGO(458mAhg−1 at 100mAg−1), SnO2@PANI (480mAhg−1 at 100mAg−1) and pure SnO2 nanoparticles (300mAhg−1 at 100mAg−1). Such intriguing electrochemical performance is mainly attributed to the strong synergistic effects among SnO2, polyaniline and graphene. It is reckoned that the present 3D SnO2@PANI/rGO nanohybrids can serve as a promising anode material for LIBs.