We demonstrated a high-energy single-frequency erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) laser. With 1470 nm laser diodes (LDs) as pumping sources, single-frequency laser pulses with energy of 28.6 mJ, 21.6 mJ, and 15.0 mJ are obtained at pulse repetition frequency of 200 Hz, 300 Hz, and 500 Hz, respectively. As far as we know, this is the highest single-frequency pulse energy with the Er:YAG gain medium. With the ring cavity design, pulse duration is maintained at hundreds of nanoseconds. This high-energy single-frequency laser with hundreds of nanoseconds pulse duration is a prospective laser source for light detection and ranging applications.