As a potential target for shock wave experiments, the multilayer graded density carbon aerogel target was prepared. Firstly, carbon aerogel sheets with varying thickness and density were fabricated by polycondensation of resorcinol with formaldehyde by a self-made flexible micro-mould. Secondly, with ultra-low density (10mgcm −3 ) SiO 2 aerogel as a bonding agent, a 5-layer graded density carbon aerogel target was obtained. The thickness of each unit sheet ranged from 100 to 580μm, and the density ranged from 50 to 400mgcm −3 . We focused on fabrication of unit sheets, peeling off their dense layers (about 150nm) and research of C/SiO 2 aerogel interface microstructure. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray phase contrast imager and surface profiler were used to observe the multilayer structure and characterize the surface and internal microstructure of unit sheets. The results showed that the target fabricated by such method possessed multilayer graded density structure with homogeneous C/SiO 2 interface and excellent formability.