The long term shrinking strain (1~90 d) of ordinary cement mortar and styrenebutadiene rubber (SBR) latex modified cement mortar were tested by micrometer calipers, and the microimage and microstructure of mortar aged at 28 d was analyzed by pore size distribution method, density method and scanning electron microscope(SEM) image. The hydration heat of SBR latex modified neat cement mortar was measured. It was shown that the long term shrinking performance of mortars was improved when the content of SBR latex was above 3%, especially before the age of 28 d. The long term shrinking strains of mortars reduced as the increase of SBR latex content. The improving mechanisms of SBR latex on the shrinking of mortar were as follows: 1) The hydration heat reduced before 72 h, with which it reduced the thermal expansion crack of mortar. 2) The water around the SBR grain was lost during the processing of hydration, and polymer films were formed, with which it played the role of “microfiber” and restrict the shrinking of mortar. 3).As the incorporation of SBR latex, the mean pore diameter, mode pore diameter, median pore diameter of mortar aged at 28 d decreased. And the quantity of harmful and multiharmful porosity reduced with the increase of quantity of harmless porosity. Therefore it was indicated that the microstructures of mortars were improved by the content of SBR latex. 4) The total porosity of mortars declined slightly as the incorporation of SBR latex, and the proportion of closed porosity to the total pore remarkable increased, which played the role of maintaining internal water of mortar.