We report a one-pot hydrothermal approach to synthesize carbon coated-SnO2/graphene-sheet (SnO2-C/GNS) nanocomposite. Strong oxidation–reduction reactions to produce GNS by the traditional Hummers' method are avoided. The experiments show that the glucose and tin tetrachloride can intercalate into the thin graphite flake to exfoliate graphite and form SnO2-C/GNS nanocomposite simultaneously during the hydrothermal process. The approach is quite simple and green. Meanwhile, the prepared SnO2-C/GNS nanocomposite as an anode material of lithium-ion batteries exhibits higher lithium storage capacity and better cycling performance compared to SnO2 nanoparticle and SnO2-C microsphere. It still delivers the reversible capacity of 703 mA h g−1 after 80 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g−1 and maintains 443 mA h g−1 after 100 cycles at a current density of 1000 mA g−1. The improvement in the performance of SnO2-C/GNS nanocomposite can be attributed to the fully conﬁnement of SnO2 nanoparticles between the GNS and the carbon layer, which can effectively prevent the detachment and agglomeration of SnO2 and preserve the integrity of the nanostructure during charge/discharge cycling.