Porous ceramics have a large number of interconnected or closed pores. Microstructural characteristics such as pore size, pore distribution and connectivity, play a crucial role in physical properties of material. In this paper, we present the remarkable properties and broad application prospects of porous ceramic insulation materials, including applications in aerospace, construction, industrial energy efficiency, biomedical (for bone defect repair materials), ceramic electrochemical devices in batteries, catalyst carriers (for exhaust gas purification in gasoline engines), and various other fields such as sound insulation, liquid separation, and sensors. It also summarizes the preparation methods and research progress of porous ceramic thermal insulation materials in recent years. The content mainly covers the selection of raw materials, technological methods, and key material properties. Finally, it outlines the current development status and common challenges faced by porous ceramic materials, along with suggesting strategies for improvement, aiming to provide references for the development of more high-performance porous ceramic thermal insulation materials in the future.