The invention discloses a preparation method of a shape-selective catalyst for synthesizing p-methyl phenol, relating to the technical field of high performance catalyst in alkylating process. The preparation method comprises the following steps of: weighing metal nitrate, and adding the same in anhydrous alcohol, wherein the mass ratio of the metal nitrate to the anhydrous alcohol is 1:10; adding a complex ligand after the metal nitrate is completely dissolved, wherein the mol ratio of the complex ligand to the metal ions in the metal nitrate is 1:1 to 3:1, uniformly stirring the mixture through a glass bar, adding a micro-porous molecular sieve therein, adjusting the mass ratio of the metal ions in the metal nitrate to the micro-porous molecular sieve to 1:100 to 1:5, uniformly stirring, soaking at the room temperature for 24 h, and drying the mixture at water bath of 60 DEG C, transferring the mixture in an oven, and drying the same at 120 DEG C for 6 h, roasting the mixture in a muffle furnace, and heating up to 550 DEG C at a speed of 10 DEG C per minute to obtain the shape-selective catalyst. The invention has the advantages of simple preparation method, low cost and high shape selection performance, etc.