We report (Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Zr0.1Ti0.9)O-3 + x wt.% CeO2 lead free piezoelectric ceramics fabricated by conventional solid-state reaction routes. The phase structure, microstructure and functional properties have been systematically investigated. The morphotropic phase boundary was investigated in the range of x = 0 - 0.1%. A comparative study of their functional properties as a function of sintering temperature is presented. The study shows the important role of sintering temperature and grain size on the functional properties of these ceramics. Enhanced properties are observed for x = 0.07% at a sintering temperature 200 degrees C lower than for pure BCZT, in which, d(33) = 507 +/- 20 pC/N, k(p) = 51.8%, epsilon(r) = 4091 +/- 100, tan delta = 0.02, P-r = 16.32 mu m/cm(2), E-C = 2.13 kV/cm and T-C = 104.6 degrees C indicating that these ceramics are promising lead-free substitutes for the widely used lead-based ceramics.