In the present paper colloidal PbSe nanocrystals were prepared with the particle size of 3.8 and 5.8 nm, and the temperature- dependent optical properties of colloidal PbSe nanocrystals were investigated. The experimental data show that the band gap, photoluminescence peak wavelength, photoluminescence intensity and full width at half-maximum of colloidal PbSe nanocrystals will change with variations in temperature and size at room temperature. The band gap of colloidal PbSe nanocrystals with the particle size of 3.8 nm shifts towards red when the temperature increases. However, the blue shift occurs when the particle size is 5.8 nm. The photoluminescence intensity of colloidal PbSe nanocrystals drops and the full width at half-maximum will increases with the increase in temperature.