A superhydrophobic cotton fabric was prepared by dip-coating TiO2 for four times and subsequent surface modification with n-octadecylthiol (ODT). The surface morphology, crystal structure and chemical composition are studied by SEM, XRD, and XPS, respectively. Water contact angle on the superhydrophobic cotton fabric is approximately 151 degrees and the glide angle is less than 20 degrees. The results show that two factors of higher surface roughness and lower surface free energy play a crucial role for the formation of the superhydrophobicity. Finally, the formation mechanism of superhydrophobicity on the cotton fabric was discussed on the basis of Wenzel's and Cassie's theory. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.