The invention discloses a method for preparation of lithium tantalate nano-powder by a hydrothermal process. The method includes: using deionized water as a reaction solvent, adding a lithium source and a tantalum source, ensuring the mole ratio of tantalum ions to lithium ions at 1:(1-8), carrying out reaction for 8-24h in an autoclave, keeping the reaction temperature at 200-260DEG C, and at the end of the reaction, firstly conducting washing by deionized water, and then performing washing by an alcohol solvent, thus obtaining the lithium tantalate nano-powder. The lithium source is LiOH or Li2CO3, and the tantalum source is Ta(OH)5 or Ta2O5. The method provided by the invention adopts different lithium sources and different tantalum sources as the raw materials, and takes deionized water as a reaction solvent to synthesize the LiTaO3 nano-powder. The prepared LiTaO3 powder has a regular shape, fine, complete and uniform grains, high purity, no aggregation or less agglomeration, and has no need for high-temperature calcination treatment. The method provided by the invention has the advantages of fewer steps, simple preparation, short reaction time, low reaction temperature, and is suitable for mass production.