Nitrogen-doped carbon microspheres (NCSs) were fabricated via a simple, fast and energy-saving microwave-assisted method followed by thermal treatment under an ammonia atmosphere. NCSs thermally treated at different temperatures were investigated as anode materials for lithium ion batteries (LIBs). The results show that NCSs treated at 900 °C exhibit a maximum reversible capacity of 816 mA h g(-1) at a current density of 50 mA g(-1) and preserve a capacity of 660 mA h g(-1) after 50 cycles, and even at a high current density of 1000 mA g(-1), a capacity of 255 mA h g(-1) is maintained. The excellent electrochemical performance of NCSs is due to their porous structure and nitrogen-doping. The present NCSs should be promising low-cost anode materials with a high capacity and good cycle stability for LIBs.