Spinal cord injury (SCI) is characterized by high morbidity and mortality, high treatment cost, and young age of onset. The current clinical treatment effect is not ideal, causing a heavy burden to both society and family. In order to further improve the clinical treatment methods, and prolong and improve the life quality of patients with SCI, it is necessary to further clarify the pathophysiological mechanisms of SCI. The animal models of SCI can better simulate different stages of SCI, so as to facilitate the exploration of related pathophysiological mechanisms. Several different SCI models have been used to clarify the pathogenesis and experimental therapeutic treatment of SCI. This review summarizes the research progress and application of spinal cord contusion, spinal cord compression injury and spinal cord transection injury models, so as to offer a reference for a suitable choice and preparation of an SCI model.