Using an easy and general way, magnetic metal nickel nanotubes are successfully fabricated by adding polyethylene glycol (PEG200, PEG2000, and PEG20000) in the common electrolyte solution combined with electrodeposition technique. This method is very easy, effective, and facile. Especially, the pore wall of the template need not be modified, and their wall thickness can be effectively controlled by adjusting the experimental parameters, such as the electric current density, the concentration of polyethylene glycol, and the electrodeposition time. The possible formation mechanism is proposed. The magnetic measurement of Ni nanotubes indicates that the difference of the polymers used in the preparation does not have a notable effect on their magnetic properties. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 50:43-47, 2010. (C) 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers