Abstract: Iron tailings are the main solid waste produced in the process of iron ore development, and the utilization of iron tailings as building materials is one of the important directions for its large−scale consumption. Based on the physical and chemical characteristics of iron tailings, the research progress in the preparation of building materials from iron tailings at home and abroad is reviewed, including: (1) cement; (2) concrete, mainly as artificial coarse/fine aggregate, or as a cementing material after activation treatment; (3) brick materials, such as sintered brick, autoclaved brick, ceramic brick, permeable brick, and steam−free and burn−free brick; (4) wall materials, including concrete wall materials, new wall materials such as sound insulation materials and thermal insulation materials; (5) ceramic materials, such as porcelain tile, glass ceramics, and foamed ceramics; (6) road materials, including subgrade filling material, road base course, and subbase course. The major problems and future development trends of iron tailings in building materials applications are analyzed. Due to the characteristics of iron tailings, such as large particle size range, fine particle size in some parts, poor grading, poor activity, large performance fluctuation and large difference in properties of different iron tailings, there are some problems in the process of building materials utilization, such as small dosage, high treatment cost and poor product performance. According to the characteristics of iron tailings, an efficient and simple production process route is proposed. It is urgent to further reduce the production cost and improve the product value.