In order to improve the application of knitted structural materials for safety protection, the fabrication processes and performance characteristics of knitted protective materials made of plain structure, warp-knitted mesh structure, warp-knitted spacer structure, velvet structure, axial structure, auxetic structure and seamless structure fabric, are systematically introduced in this review. And the application and research status of knitted protective materials is summarized. Knitted protective materials have the advantages of comfort, excellent formability, strong designability and large protective area, therefore, they have a broad development prospect in the field of safety protection. At the same time, this review combines the current development of science and technology and the actual needs of people for protective products, and points out that knitted protective materials will be developed in the directions of intelligence, multi-function, lightweight, portable, comfort and fashion.