A new model accounting for the particle size and shape dependent melting temperature of metallic nanoparticles is proposed in this paper, where the particle shape is considered by introducing a shape factor. It is shown that the particle shape can affect the melting temperature of nanoparticles, and the particle shape effect on the melting temperature become larger with decreasing of the particle size. The present calculation results on the melting temperature of Sn, Pb, In and Bi nanoparticles are well consistent with the corresponding experimental values and better than these given by liquid drop model. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.