Uniform CoSn(OH)6 hollow nanoboxes and the derivative with Pt loading (Pt/CoSn(OH)6) were herein synthesized and characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). SEM and TEM analyses showed that CoSn(OH)6 possessed mesoporous hollow structure and Pt nanoparticles with size of 2–8[Formula: see text]nm were uniformly dispersed on the surface of CoSn(OH)6 nanoboxes. The performances of the catalysts for the formaldehyde (HCHO) removal at room temperature were evaluated. These Pt/CoSn(OH)6 catalysts exhibited a remarkable catalytic activity as well as stability for room-temperature oxidative decomposition of gaseous HCHO, while the corresponding CoSn(OH)6 only showed adsorption. The synergetic effect between the highly dispersed Pt nanoparticles and the CoSn(OH)6 nanoboxes with mesoporous hollow structure, a large surface area and abundant surface hydroxyl groups is considered to be the main reason for the observed high catalytic activity of Pt/CoSn(OH)6.