WO 3 nanorods were synthesized via a simple hydrothermal approach. Their microstructure and morphology were analyzed with x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The effects of reaction temperature, reaction time, and citric acid concentration, on the gas-sensing performance of WO 3 nanorods were investigated. The optimized response value of WO 3 sensor to ethanol gas (100 ppm) was 26.48, with a response time of 1 s under a low operating temperature (160 °C). The recovery capability and stability of the gas sensor were tested and discussed. Additionally, the working principle of WO 3 sensor was proposed. In comparison to the sensors published by previous researchers, the WO 3 sensor has shown great potential.