Preparation of graded materials displaying gradients of desired properties is one of the important issues and less-developed areas in materials chemistry. For the first time we demonstrate facile control of porosity and length in the pores of AAO template in lateral directions by controlled dipping method. To demonstrate the versatility of the proposed method, laterally graded silica nanotubes are also prepared by using the laterally graded AAO templates. The method demonstrated here will open numerous possibilities for obtaining a variety of graded materials with lateral gradients of catalytic, electrochemical, mechanical and optical properties on the nanoscale.