To reduce an equipment cost of the whole work for arranging a preheating device for charging material and to enable extension of the preheating device for charging material to the existing work, in the preheating device for charging material in an arc furnace.

In the preheating device for charging material of the arc furnace, a material vessel 1 for preheating the charging material is attachable/ detachable, not fixed on a shifting device 2 unlike to the conventional technique. The material vessel 1 is separated from the shifting device 2 and shifted to a lower position in the work with a crane 7, and the material is charged from a raw material charging part 4 at the top part of the material vessel 1. After charging the material, the material vessel 1 is laid on a prescribed position on the shifting device 2 with the crane 7. The material vessel 1 is located on a preheating position by horizontally shifting the shifting device 2 and preheated. After completing the preheating, the material vessel 1 is located on the upper part of the furnace body and the material is charged into the arc furnace 3.