The pyroelectric properties of Mn-doped Aurivillius ceramics with different pseudo-perovskite layers were investigated. The pyroelectric coefficients for 0.2 wt% Mn-doped two-layer CaBi2Nb2O9 (CBN-Mn), three-layer Bi4Ti2.85Nb0.15O12 (BTN-Mn), and four-layer CaBi4Ti3.95Nb0.05O15 (CBTN-Mn) ferroelectric ceramics were found to be on the order of 26.0, 54.4, 84.4 mu C/m(2)K at room temperature, respectively. These values were closely associated with the number of octahedral layers in the pseudo-perovskite blocks. The high pyroelectric coefficient, together with low dielectric permittivity and loss (tan < 0.003), results in to high figures of merit for the current responsivity, voltage responsivity, and detectivity. The excellent pyroelectric properties and high Curie temperatures (T-C > 660 degrees C) make the Aurivillius ceramics potential candidates for pyroelectric devices over a broad temperature range.