Aqueous rechargeable zinc-ion batteries (ARZIBs) are expected to replace organic electrolyte batteries owing to its low price, safe and environmentally friendly characteristics. Herein, we fabricated vanadium-based Na1.25V3O8 nanosheets as a cathode material for ARZIBs, which present a high performance by electrochemical de-sodium at high voltage to form Na2V6O16 phase in the first cycle:high capacity of 390 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g, high rate performance (162 mAh/g at 10 A/g) and superior cycle stability (179 mAh/g with a high capacity retention of 88.2％ of the maximum capacity after 2000 cycles). In addition, the cell exhibits a high energy density of 416.9 Wh/kg at 143.6 W/kg, suggesting great potential of the as-prepared Na1.25V3O8 nanosheets for ARZIBs.