The catalytic combustion of toluene over mixed Cu-Mn oxides supported on cordierite is investigated in this paper. The catalysts were prepared by the incipient wetness method and characterized by XRD, BET and TEM. Five kinds of cordierite-type compounds containing different amounts of Cu2+ and Mn2+ ions were prepared (the mole ratio of Cu2+ : Mn2+ varied as follows: 1 : 1, 1 : 2, 1 : 4, 2 : 1 and 4 : 1). Calcination of the precursors at 500 degrees C resulted in mixed oxides and all calcined materials proved extremely active in catalytic combustion of toluene, in which the Cu2+ : Mn2+ = 1 : 2 (forming CuMn2O4) was found to have the highest activity for toluene oxidation and T-90% was about 200 degrees C. The objective of this study was to investigate the catalytic properties of Cu-Mn/cordierite catalysts prepared at different mole ratios, in order to obtain some information to prepare an efficient and highly active catalyst for catalytic combustion of volatile organic compounds at low temperature.