Er3+:GdVO4 single crystal with large size and good optical quality has been grown by Czochralski method. Its absorption and emission spectra were measured at room temperature. The absorption cross-sections are calculated on the basis of its spectra. According to Judd-Ofelt theory, the phenomenological intensity parameters Omega(lambda) of Er3+ ions have been fitted adopting least-squares method. Moreover, the spectral parameters of Er3+ ions including oscillator strengths, radiative transition probabilities, radiative lifetimes and integrated emission cross-sections have been calculated. From the parameters mentioned above, the laser emission probability of Er3+:GdVO4 crystal was discussed. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.