2D materials are widely used in optics, biology, materials science and semiconductor fields owing to their large specific surface area, high carrier mobility and high thermal conductivity. Mechanical ball milling method is widely used in the stripping of 2D materials because of its advantages of low cost, environmental protection, and large-scale production. Starting from the mechanism and related models of mechanical ball milling, this paper reviews the research status of nanosheets of 2D materials, such as graphene, boron nitride, molybdenum disulfide and so on, by mechanical ball milling. The advantages and existing problems of this method in preparing 2D nanomaterials were summarized, and the development directions of 2D materials prepared by mechanical ball milling were prospected.