Nano crystalline BaFe12O19 powders have been prepared at a relatively low calcination temperature by a gel combustion technique using citric acid as a fuel/reductant and nitrates as oxidants. The effects of processing parameters, such as Ba/Fe ratio, citric acid/nitrates ratio, reaction temperature on the powder characteristics and magnetic properties of the resultant barium ferrites were investigated. By controlling the molar ratio of citric acid to metal nitrates, nano crystalline BaFe12O19 powders with different particle sizes have been obtained. Phase attributes, microstructures and magnetic properties of the powders were characterized using X-ray diffraction analysis, X-ray line-broadening technique, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy measurements, transmission electron microscopy and vibrating sample magnetometer. The maximum saturation magnetization value and intrinsic coercivity value for the obtained barium hexaferrites are 59.36 emu/g and 5540 Oe. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.