Highly transparent Nd-doped calcium fluoride (Nd: CaF2) ceramics with different Nd-doped concentrations were fabricated by hot-pressed method using Nd: CaF2 nanopowders synthesized by coprecipitation method. SEM observations indicated that the average grain size of nanopowders was about 16-30 nm and the average grain size of the ceramics was between 200 nm and 1 mu m. The grain boundaries of the ceramics were clean and no pores or impurities were detected. For 2-mm-thickness sample, the transmittance of the as-fabricated 5 at.% Nd: CaF2 ceramic at 1200 nm was about 85%. The absorption coefficient and emission intensity of the Nd: CaF2 ceramics were measured and discussed. From the Nd: CaF2 ceramics fluorescent spectra and the decay curves, it was found that the fluorescent quenching effect became more evident with the increase in the Nd3+ ions-doped concentration.