This article summarizes and comments on the characteristics of zirconium carbide and boride powders synthesized bytraditional synthesis methods. These methods include direct synthetic method, carbothermal reduction, magnesiothermicreduction, sol-gel, mechanical alloying, liquid phase precursor conversion, pre-ceramic polymers, and self-propagating hightemperaturesynthesis techniques. Additionally, this paper describes the latest research progresses of the self-propagating hightemperaturesynthesis (SHS) technique of zirconium carbide and boride, and prospects the nanocrystallization and large-scalewill be the direction of future industrial researches.