Low-dimensional micro/nanomaterials with highly anisotropic optoelectronic properties manifesting remarkable light polarization characteristics have potential applications in the liquid crystal displays, visible light communications, ultrasensitive photodetectors, optical quantum computing, medical therapy, and supramolecular chirality control. Rare-earth ions-doped materials can be precisely controlled in terms of morphology, size, colloidal monodispersity, and energy transfer mediated luminescence processes, providing a basis for exploring the light polarization characteristics of rare-earth ions. Currently, the light polarization characteristics of various rare-earth ions in different structures have been detected. Thus, this paper briefly summarizes the researches on light polarization characteristics of rare-earth ions-doped materials. The linear and circular polarization characteristics of the luminescence from rare-earth ions in different structures are introduced according to the classification of polarized light. The factors influencing these two polarization characteristics, and the relationship between the factors and the structure are analyzed and discussed in detail. Additionally, the applications of light polarization characteristics of rare-earth ions-doped materials in different fields are summarized. Finally, the future development in this direction is prospected.