Abstract: Due to the excellent combination of low cost, high production efficiency and strong technology, self-propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS)were extensively employed to prepare ceramic coatings.The latest progress of SHS method was introduced, and the structure, properties and main problems of different types of ceramic coatings prepared by SHS method were discussed.The measures to improve the performance(coating toughness, density and bond strength)were analyzed, and the development prospect of the SHS method was also pointed.