Abstract: Monitoring the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is an important part in the environmental governance. However, it is still a great challenge to develop rapid and high-sensitive detecting system for VOCs detection. The VOCs sensor based on sensing materials can achieve the real-time monitoring of the concentration of pollutants in the air. Therefore, the emission standard of VOCs can be adjusted to reduce the harm of VOCs to human body and environment. Sensitive elements with the performance of repaid identification and capture of VOCs, can be accomplished by controlling materials and methods. And hence the gas sensor with superior sensitivity, safety and reliability can be obtained. This paper extensively reviewed the research progress of VOCs-sensing films prepared with the materials of polymers, metallic oxides, composites and novel materials, focusing the attention on the mechanisms of interaction between VOCs and sensing membranes. Furthermore, the construction strategies of sensing materials for improving the sensitivity and detection limit for VOCs detection were discussed. Finally, the prospects and challenges of sensing films with optical effect (e.g. photoluminescent and chiral nematic sensitive films) on the VOCs detection were indicated.