Glycerol is one of the most attractive platform chemicals and catalytic upgrading of glycerol to valuable products is of great importance. In the past decade, synthesis of 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PDO) from renewable glycerol has attracted attentions of many scientists. In this review, the performance and recent progress of those typical and popularly reported catalysts, such as Ru-, Pt-based noble metals, Co, Ni, copper-chromite, Cu/ZnO, Cu/Al2O3, Cu/SiO2, Cu/MgO and homogenously dispersed Cu in solid base, in the synthesis of 1,2-PDO from glycerol were summarized in detail. The reaction mechanism over noble metals and Cu-based catalysts were discussed. At the same time, hydrogenolysis of glycerol via catalytic transfer hydrogenation, and the relationship between structure and performance of Cu-based catalyst in continuous hydrogenolysis of glycerol in vapor phase were also compared.