Abstract: With the development of the theory and method of chemical properties research, the relationship between the structure and properties of flotation reagents has gradually changed from qualitative analysis to quantitative research. The key of quantitative research is to determine some principles or criteria that can judge the separation performance of reagents in advance, that is, the performance criteria of flotation reagents. This paper briefly introduces the common design criteria of flotation agents and their advantages and disadvantages, in order to provide a basis for the research and development of high−efficiency flotation agents. The design criteria can be divided into chemical property criterion, group or bonded atom property criterion and binding energy criterion. These criteria pay more attention to the interaction process between the reagent and the mineral surface, which leads to its screening function in the process of use. In order to develop novel and efficient flotation agents, it is necessary to rely on the characterization theory and method of the strength of the flotation reagents and minerals, select the property parameters of flotation reagents and establish the correlation between the property parameters and the strength of the action, so as to form a novel and more efficient performance criterion of flotation reagents.