Abstract: The unique three-dimensional network of aerogel endows it with characteristics of ultra-low density and ultra-low thermal conductivity. These characteristics make it to an ideal lightweight thermal insulation material, which has highly attractiveness in fields of microelectronics, aerospace and other fields with strict weight requirements. Therefore, it sparks extensive research interest of researchers work in this field. This review first analyzes the preparation methods of aerogel materials, mainly focus on sol-gel method, molecular route method, electrospinning method, 3D printing and other methods in the thermal insulation application of aerogel. Subsequently, discussions on material selection of aerogel are carried out. Finally, a brief summary of prospect and analysis on the future research directions of aerogels are made.