View of the negative influence of metal ions on natural environment and human health, fast and quantitative detection of metals ions in water systems is significant. Ultra-small grain size CdS quantum dots (QDs) modified with N-acetyl-L-cysteines (NALC) (NALC-CdS QDs) are successfully prepared via a facile hydrothermal route. Based on the changes of fluorescence intensity of NALC-CdS QDs solution after adding metal ions, the fluorescence probe made from the NALC-CdS QDs is developed to detect metal ions in water systems. Among various metal ions, the fluorescence of NALC-CdS QDs effectively quenched by the addition of Cu 2+ , the probe shows high sensitivity and selectivity for detecting Cu 2+ in other interferential metal ions coexisted system. Importantly, the fluorescence intensity of NALC-CdS QDs changes upon the concentration of Cu 2+ , the probe displays an excellent linear relationship between the fluorescence quenching rate and the concentration of Cu 2+ in ranging from 1 to 25 μM. Besides, the detected limitation of the probe towards Cu 2+ as low as 0.48 μM. The measurement of Cu 2+ in real water sample is also carried out using the probe. The results indicate that NALC-CdS QDs fluorescence probe may be a promising candidate for quantitative Cu 2+ detection in practical application.