diff --git a/cpp/src/arrow/ipc/message.cc b/cpp/src/arrow/ipc/message.cc
index aeb106e1c70..dcf61ef0616 100644
--- a/cpp/src/arrow/ipc/message.cc
+++ b/cpp/src/arrow/ipc/message.cc
@@ -424,8 +424,9 @@ Status WriteMessage(const Buffer& message, const IpcWriteOptions& options,
     RETURN_NOT_OK(file->Write(&internal::kIpcContinuationToken, sizeof(int32_t)));
   }
 
-  // Write the flatbuffer size prefix including padding
-  int32_t padded_flatbuffer_size = padded_message_length - prefix_size;
+  // Write the flatbuffer size prefix including padding in little endian
+  int32_t padded_flatbuffer_size =
+      BitUtil::ToLittleEndian(padded_message_length - prefix_size);
   RETURN_NOT_OK(file->Write(&padded_flatbuffer_size, sizeof(int32_t)));
 
   // Write the flatbuffer
@@ -577,18 +578,18 @@ class MessageDecoder::MessageDecoderImpl {
   }
 
   Status ConsumeInitialData(const uint8_t* data, int64_t size) {
-    return ConsumeInitial(util::SafeLoadAs<int32_t>(data));
+    return ConsumeInitial(BitUtil::FromLittleEndian(util::SafeLoadAs<int32_t>(data)));
   }
 
   Status ConsumeInitialBuffer(const std::shared_ptr<Buffer>& buffer) {
     ARROW_ASSIGN_OR_RAISE(auto continuation, ConsumeDataBufferInt32(buffer));
-    return ConsumeInitial(continuation);
+    return ConsumeInitial(BitUtil::FromLittleEndian(continuation));
   }
 
   Status ConsumeInitialChunks() {
     int32_t continuation = 0;
     RETURN_NOT_OK(ConsumeDataChunks(sizeof(int32_t), &continuation));
-    return ConsumeInitial(continuation);
+    return ConsumeInitial(BitUtil::FromLittleEndian(continuation));
   }
 
   Status ConsumeInitial(int32_t continuation) {
@@ -616,18 +617,19 @@ class MessageDecoder::MessageDecoderImpl {
   }
 
   Status ConsumeMetadataLengthData(const uint8_t* data, int64_t size) {
-    return ConsumeMetadataLength(util::SafeLoadAs<int32_t>(data));
+    return ConsumeMetadataLength(
+        BitUtil::FromLittleEndian(util::SafeLoadAs<int32_t>(data)));
   }
 
   Status ConsumeMetadataLengthBuffer(const std::shared_ptr<Buffer>& buffer) {
     ARROW_ASSIGN_OR_RAISE(auto metadata_length, ConsumeDataBufferInt32(buffer));
-    return ConsumeMetadataLength(metadata_length);
+    return ConsumeMetadataLength(BitUtil::FromLittleEndian(metadata_length));
   }
 
   Status ConsumeMetadataLengthChunks() {
     int32_t metadata_length = 0;
     RETURN_NOT_OK(ConsumeDataChunks(sizeof(int32_t), &metadata_length));
-    return ConsumeMetadataLength(metadata_length);
+    return ConsumeMetadataLength(BitUtil::FromLittleEndian(metadata_length));
   }
 
   Status ConsumeMetadataLength(int32_t metadata_length) {
diff --git a/cpp/src/arrow/ipc/read_write_test.cc b/cpp/src/arrow/ipc/read_write_test.cc
index 9e4f4c9e570..6ae76114b01 100644
--- a/cpp/src/arrow/ipc/read_write_test.cc
+++ b/cpp/src/arrow/ipc/read_write_test.cc
@@ -131,6 +131,11 @@ TEST_P(TestMessage, SerializeTo) {
     ASSERT_EQ(BitUtil::RoundUp(metadata->size() + prefix_size, alignment) + body_length,
               output_length);
     ASSERT_OK_AND_EQ(output_length, stream->Tell());
+    ASSERT_OK_AND_ASSIGN(auto buffer, stream->Finish());
+    // chech whether length is written in little endian
+    auto buffer_ptr = buffer.get()->data();
+    ASSERT_EQ(output_length - body_length - prefix_size,
+              BitUtil::FromLittleEndian(*(uint32_t*)(buffer_ptr + 4)));
   };
 
   CheckWithAlignment(8);
diff --git a/cpp/src/arrow/ipc/reader.cc b/cpp/src/arrow/ipc/reader.cc
index 3c51fef033c..75f22139607 100644
--- a/cpp/src/arrow/ipc/reader.cc
+++ b/cpp/src/arrow/ipc/reader.cc
@@ -979,7 +979,8 @@ class RecordBatchFileReaderImpl : public RecordBatchFileReader {
       return Status::Invalid("Not an Arrow file");
     }
 
-    int32_t footer_length = *reinterpret_cast<const int32_t*>(buffer->data());
+    int32_t footer_length =
+        BitUtil::FromLittleEndian(*reinterpret_cast<const int32_t*>(buffer->data()));
 
     if (footer_length <= 0 || footer_length > footer_offset_ - magic_size * 2 - 4) {
       return Status::Invalid("File is smaller than indicated metadata size");
diff --git a/cpp/src/arrow/ipc/writer.cc b/cpp/src/arrow/ipc/writer.cc
index 292fe9cb2fc..d3af24d7f9a 100644
--- a/cpp/src/arrow/ipc/writer.cc
+++ b/cpp/src/arrow/ipc/writer.cc
@@ -1184,6 +1184,8 @@ class PayloadFileWriter : public internal::IpcPayloadWriter, protected StreamBoo
       return Status::Invalid("Invalid file footer");
     }
 
+    // write footer length in little endian
+    footer_length = BitUtil::ToLittleEndian(footer_length);
     RETURN_NOT_OK(Write(&footer_length, sizeof(int32_t)));
 
     // Write magic bytes to end file