To accurately and efficiently optimize the component content of the catalyst is one important strategy to fabricate robust catalysts. By multi-response surface methodology (RSM), this study chose promising metal components (Co, Ce, and W) supported over activated carbon as a catalyst to investigate the catalytic activity of CO2-CH4 reforming. First, the center point of the center-complex design (CCD) based on RSM was determined by single-factor experiment, Co, W and Ce were loaded with 10.1 wt%, 9.7 wt%, and 9.2 wt %, respectively. Then, the three-factor and five-level CCD was exhibited. Four wellmatched quadratic regression models (R-2 is close to 1) were developed to gain a better understanding of the effects of the individual component content and their interactions on CH4 conversion, CO2 conversion, H-2 yield, and CO yield. The results showed that W content was the most important negative parameter affecting the conversion of CH4 and CO2, while the Co and Ce content played a significant positive role in the catalyst performance. The interactive effects of all different component content imposed a significant effect on the CO2 conversion and CO yield. At last, the content optimization suggested that the optimal catalytic activity was achieved at the content of Co, W, and Ce of 10.6 wt%, 6.5 wt%, and 8.6 wt%, respectively, which was validated by a mean error of less than 2.2%. (C) 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.