Nanocrystalline Y-TZP tape casts were used as interlayers to join conventional Y-TZP ceramic pellets. The joining experiments were performed by hot pressing at 1000degreesC to 1300degreesC under constant pressure of 55 MPa. Two types of joints were obtained with and without a nanocrystalline interlayer. At 1100degreesC, the successful joints were enabled only with the interlayer; four point bending test results revealed an average joint strength of 206 +/- 10 MPa. The joint strength increased with the joining temperature. The specimens joined at 1300degreesC with an interlayer exhibited a joint strength of 613 +/- 40 MPa, which is similar to96% of the strength of the ceramic pellets. The interlayer at the joint exhibited homogeneous and crack free microstructure and preserved its nanocrystalline nature at all temperatures. The advantage of the nanocrystalline interlayer for joining is pronounced at lower joining temperatures and most probably for pellets with large grain size.