In this study, mesoporous SnO2 nanocubes with tunable sizes are fabricated by a facile hydrothermal route and a subsequent acid etching process. The SnO2 nanocubes with large surface area and rich porosity exhibits superior gas sensing property toward ethanol in terms of ultrahigh sensitivity (response of 1670.5 to 100 ppm and similar to 72 to 1 ppm ethanol), fast response times (23 s) and recovery times (21 s), excellent selectivity as well as relative low working temperature of 200 degrees C. The superior gas sensing performance of as -fabricated SnO2 nanocubes might be promising in many practical applications. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.