Objective To understand status of technical realization, present development, faced problems, and application prospects of reduced-port laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer, and to analyze safety and feasibility so as to provide theoretical and practical basis for clinical application and promotion. Method By searching the databases such as Medline, Embase, and Wanfang, etc., the relevant literatures about reduced-port laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer were collected and reviewed. Results At present, the most common reduced-port laparoscopic surgery was the 1-port laparoscopic surgery, 2-port laparoscopic surgery, and 3-port laparoscopic surgery. The 1-port laparoscopic surgery had the effects of minimal invasiveness and cosmesis, but it was difficult to perform. The 2-port laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer preserved as far as possible the effect of minimal invasiveness, the difficulty of procedure was reduced greatly, which was easy to be learnt and promoted. The experience of the 3-port laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer contributed to the technical development of the 1-port laparoscopic surgery, with no need for the assisted incision for intraoperative specimen. The reduced-port laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer was technically feasible and safe, which possessed the equal or better short-term outcomes as compared with the conventional 5-port laparoscopic or open surgery beside the radical resection for rectal cancer. However, the stringent technique for the laparoscopic surgery was necessary and it needed to overcome the learning curve. Conclusions Reduced-port laparoscopic surgery has some obvious advantages in minimal invasiveness, cosmesis, and enhanced recovery. More large-sample, multi-center, randomized controlled trials are eager to further confirm safety, effectiveness, and feasibility of reduced-port laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer.