Provided are a method for preparing a cellulose ether having a low degree of polymerization and undergoing less yellowing and a cellulose ether prepared thereby. More specifically, provided is a method for preparing a cellulose ether having a low degree of polymerization, the method comprising a step of bringing pulp and an alkali metal hydroxide solution into contact with each other or mixing them to obtain a corresponding alkali cellulose, a first depolymerization step of reacting the alkali cellulose with oxygen to adjust a viscosity reduction percentage of the alkali cellulose to from 10 to 95%, a step of reacting the depolymerized alkali cellulose with an etherifying agent, a step of washing and drying the reaction product to obtain a cellulose ether, and a second depolymerization step of bringing the cellulose ether into contact with hydrochloric acid to adjust a viscosity reduction percentage of the cellulose ether to from 40 to 99.9%.
