Copper-based earth-abundant chalcogenides (kesterite) such as Cu2CoSnS4 and Cu2NiSnS4 are important class due to their outstanding performance and earth-abundant composition. Here, we have successfully synthesized Cu2CoSnS4, Cu2NiSnS4 and Cu2ZnSnS4 nanorods by a hot-injection technique. The photocatalytic hydrogen production activities of rod-like Cu2XSnS4 (X = Co, Ni and Zn) catalysts have been investigated by using electron donor triethanolamine and photosensitizer eosin-Y under visible-light irradiation. The hydrogen evolution rates for the nanorods change in the order of Cu2NiSnS4> Cu2CoSnS4> Cu2ZnSnS4 (5117 μmolg−1h−1, 1342 μmolg−1h−1 and 719 μmolg−1h−1) respectively. The hydrogen evolution activities of Cu2XSnS4 nanorods have been compared to that of nanofiber and nanodot forms of Cu2XSnS4 catalysts. Cu2XSnS4 nanorods have been showed comparable photocatalytic activity for the hydrogen evolution compared with 1-D nanofiber Cu2XSnS4 catalysts.