Experiments were carried out to investigate the characteristics of formaldehyde emission from the small gasoline engine and its reduction technologies. Catalytic converters used are Pt/Rh, Pd/Rh, Pd/Pt, $62cell/cm^2$ monolith type. The measurement of formaldehyde was conducted by using the method of DNPH-GC. From the experimental results, formaldehyde emission increased in a lean mixture due to incomplete combustion of the hydrocarbons. The order of catalytic activity of formaldehyde oxidation was Pt/Rh > Pd/Rh > Pd/Pt. As the distance from the exhaust manifold to the inlet of the catalyst became far, in spite of lower catalyst temperature, formaldehyde concentration decreased because of the adsorption of formaldehyde.