Abstract: Large amount of solid waste can cause pollution and harm to the atmosphere, soil, water body and biosphere. Ceramsite is an emerging material with excellent performance and wide application. Part of the solid waste has a high fit with ceramsite raw materials, so it is an excellent ceramsite basis material. Using solid waste to prepare ceramsite products can consume solid waste on a large scale. At the same time, it can also bring good social and environmental benefits as well as considerable economic benefits. Through literature research, the national standard index requirements of ceramsite were summarized. The theoretical basis of ceramsite preparation was summarized from the ceramsite raw materials, production process and the main principles involved. The research status of ceramsite was listed and summarized. The development and market environment of ceramsite were summarized and prospected. The use of solid waste to prepare ceramsite had become an important way to achieve large-scale consumption of solid waste and resource acquisition of ceramsite.