In this study, we synthesized three precipitated iron catalysts using continuous co-precipitation method with three different iron precursors: ferric nitrate Fe(NO3)(3), ferrous sulfate FeSO4, ferrous oxalate FeC2O4. The catalysts were characterized with XRD, SEM, XPS, N-2 sorption and H-2-TPR, respectively. The results indicated that the phases of catalysts using ferrous salts as iron precursor were composed of Fe2O3 and Fe3O4. Especially, the catalyst sample prepared by ferrous oxalate (Fe-C) exhibited the largest crystallite size, the highest crystallinity (99.78%), and the easiest reducibility. Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction was carried out to study the catalytic performance of three precipitated iron catalysts. In comparison with the other two catalysts, Fe-C has showed ability of the highest catalytic activity, the best stability and the highest selectivity of C5+ hydrocarbons. All the results lead us to draw a conclusion that the properties of iron precursors can notably affect morphology, phase structure, reduction behaviors and catalytic performances of the catalyst. [GRAPHICS] .