Objective To establish a novel electrochemical sensing platform based on multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) modified electrode for rapid detection of melamine (MEL) in dairy products. Methods An electrochemical sensor for MEL detection was constructed by employing cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) techniques, using a MWNT-modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) as the sensing probe. The constructed sensor was successfully applied to detect and analyze melamine in real-world milk powder samples.Results After modification with MWNT, the effective surface area of the bare GCE increased by 1.3 fold. The MWNT-modified electrode significantly enhanced the electrochemical reaction kinetics of the system. The MEL electrochemical sensor, using the MWNT-modified GCE as the probe, exhibited a linear detection range of 10-40 μmol/L and a sensitivity of 23.85 (μA/mmol)/cm². The detected MEL content in real milk powder samples complied with the Chinese national standard requirements. Conclusion The construction of the MEL electrochemical sensor using MWNT-modified electrodes has been demonstrated to be feasible. The construction method of the MEL sensor is simple, the good repeatability and stability of the MEL sensor are exhibited, the anti-interference capability and accuracy of the MEL sensor are excellent. Based on above advantages, the MEL sensor is applied widely.