The ecological optimization and parametric study of an irreversible Ericsson cryogenic refrigerator cycle with finite heat capacities of external reservoirs is studied. The ecological function is defined as the cooling load minus the loss of the cooling load (the irreversibility) due to the entropy generation rate. The ecological function is optimized with respect to working fluid temperatures and the values of the cooling load, power input, the loss rate of the cooling load and COP are calculated for a typical set of operating parameters. The effects of different operating parameters on the ecological function, cooling load, the loss rate of the cooling load and COP are studied. The loss rate of the cooling load and the power input are found to be increasing functions of the cycle temperature ratio and decreasing functions of COP while the COP is found to be a decreasing function of the cycle temperature ratio. On the other hand, there exist the optimal values of the cycle temperature ratio and COP at which the ecological function and cooling load attain their maximum values. Also the ecological function and the cooling load are found to be increasing functions of the sink-side heat capacitance rate and the effectiveness on the source-, sink-, and regenerative-side heat exchangers while the decreasing functions of the source-side heat capacitance rate. Copyright (c) 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.