The development of new electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has attracted significant attention because commercial anode materials in LIBs, like graphite, may not be able to meet the increasing energy demand of new electronic devices. Tin dioxide (SnO₂) is considered as a promising alternative to graphite due to its high specific capacity. However, the large volume changes of SnO₂ during the lithiation/delithiation process lead to capacity fading and poor cycling performance. In this review, we have summarized the synthesis of SnO₂-based nanomaterials with various structures and chemical compositions, and their electrochemical performance as LIB anodes. This review addresses pure SnO₂ nanomaterials, the composites of SnO₂ and carbonaceous materials, the composites of SnO₂ and transition metal oxides, and other hybrid SnO₂-based materials. By providing a discussion on the synthesis methods and electrochemistry of some representative SnO₂-based nanomaterials, we aim to demonstrate that electrochemical properties can be significantly improved by modifying chemical composition and morphology. By analyzing and summarizing the recent progress in SnO₂ anode materials, we hope to show that there is still a long way to go for SnO₂ to become a commercial LIB electrode and more research has to be focused on how to enhance the cycling stability.