For the first time, erect and flaky particles of tin oxides (SnO2), as anode materials for lithium ion batteries (LIBs), were prepared by a calcination method using dioctyltin oxide as the starting material. The samples calcined at 300, 500 and 700 degrees C under the air conditions were nominated as sample a, b and c, respectively. And the sample calcined at 500 degrees C under the N-2 atmosphere was labeled as sample b(1). The obtained XRD patterns strongly indicated that tin oxides were the main components of all prepared samples. Also, in all synthesized samples, erect and flaky particles were distinctly observed by SEM. More importantly, the initial discharge capacities of sample a, b, c and b(1) at 100 mA g(-1), revealed by the galvanostatic charge-discharge measurements, were 829, 885, 815 and 729 mAh g(-1), respectively. And after 20 cycles, besides sample a, the discharge capacities at 100 mA g(-1) of sample b, c and b(1) were all higher than 300 mAh g(-1), showing acceptable electrochemical performance. A novel way, i.e., calcining the Sn-contained organic substance of dioctyltin oxide to prepare tin oxides anode materials for LIBs, was developed in this preliminary work, which has opened up a new avenue for producing metal oxides based anode materials for LIBs.