Nanosized Ce3+ doped Lu3Al5O12 (Ce:LuAG) powder with narrow particle size distribution and high sinterability were successfully synthesized via a modified co-precipitation method using hydroxy propyl cellulose (HPC) as surfactant. It was suggested that a polymer layer was formed by HPC wrapping on the Ce:LuAG precursors instead of free water during precipitation and drying processes owing to its typical property of lower critical solution temperature (LCST), which could reduce the agglomeration among the particles. The green compact shaped by the powders exhibited a superior linear thermal shrinkage (19.7%) from room temperature to 1500 degrees C and could be subsequently densified into high optical quality Ce:LuAG transparent ceramics at 1750 degrees C for 10 h under vacuum sintering without any sintering aids. The in-line optical transmittance of the Ce:LuAG ceramic reached 73.48% at the wavelength of 550 nm without observable micro-pores and secondary phases at grain boundaries or within grains. (C) 2016 The Society of Powder Technology Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. and The Society of Powder Technology Japan. All rights reserved.