The copper tailings discharge and reserve are huge in China, resulting in environmental pollution and resource waste. The complex mineral composition and fine particle size of copper tailings limit the efficient and high value-added utilization of copper tailings. This paper summarized the mineral properties, physical and chemical properties of copper tailings, and the technical and control requirements in the industrial application of building materials. The main application modes, action characteristics and the influencing rules of main components of copper tailings were summarized from the application ways of copper tailings in autoclaved aerated concrete, cement-based material, cement clinker, brick, glass-ceramics, porous material and filling material. It provides reference for copper tailings and other solid waste production enterprises to cooperate with building materials industry to systematically solve the problem of tailings recycling. In coordination with the development direction and product requirements of building materials industry, the key problems of building materials disposal of tailings resources in the future are put forward, which provides support for the real realization of resource utilization of tailings products.