Tin oxide (SnO2) with flower-like morphology and rutile phase was synthesized using a surfactant and organic solvents free acrylamide assisted microwave-hydrothermal method. The prepared sample was characterized by XRD, FE-SEM, TEM & BET techniques. The electrical conductivity of flower-like structured SnO2 sample was evaluated at room temperature from the analyzed impedance data and it was found to be 1.11 × 10−7 S cm−1. The electrochemical properties of as-synthesized SnO2 flowers as an anode for lithium ion battery were studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV), charge–discharge and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements. The specific discharge capacity of SnO2 electrode was found to be 457 mAh g−1 after 50 cycles, at a current density of 100 mA g−1. The delivered high capacity of SnO2 material was attributed to its large surface area and porous like architecture. The large surface area of SnO2 flowers provides more active sites for lithium storage and their porous structure facilitates the diffusion of more lithium ions into the electrode through the electrolyte. The SnO2 flowers with rutile phase synthesized by microwave hydrothermal method without using surfactants and organic solvents could be a better anode material for lithium ion batteries with long shelf-life than commercially used graphite.