Objective To investigate an optimum extracting technology for total glycosides from dried barks of Ilex rotunda Thunb. Methods The yields of pedunculoside and syringin by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) determination were taken as the indexes. Some parameters of the extraction technology were evaluated with an L9(3)4 orthogonal design. The optimum extraction parameters were used to extract total glycosides in laboratory. The feasibility was checked by determining the chemical constituents by means of HPLC method. Results The optimum extracting conditions were 12 times volumes of 50% ethanol as the solvent and refluxing 90 min each time for 3 times. An extract yield of total glycosides was 19.5% from barks of Ilex rotunda. Pedunculoside (292 mg/g), syringin (59.5 mg/g), sinapaldehyde glucoside, syringaresinol 4'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, and syringaresinol 4',4'-di-O-β-D-glucopyranoside were detected in the extract. Conclusion Some glycosides were found in the extract with the optimum extraction technology in laboratory. The extraction technology is practicable and valid.