Nanocrystalline MgSnO3 powders have been synthesized using co-precipitation method in presence of sodium bis(2-ethylhexylsulfOSLiccinate), Aerosol OT (AOT) as anionic surfactant. Statistical Box-Behnken experimental design was used to investigate the effect of main parameters (i.e. surfactant concentration, calcination time and calcination temperature) on MgSnO3 powders formation, crystallite size, particle size mean diameter and morphology. MgSnO3 particles were investigated using XRD, SEM, and laser diffraction particle size analysis (Coulter LS 13 320). XRD patterns revealed that the magnesium meta-stannate MgSnO3 was single phase at 800 degrees C and the peaks intensities were changed by increasing the calcination temperature from 1000 to 1200 degrees C due to the decomposition of meta-magnesimn stannate MgSnO3 to ortho-magneSiLiin stannate, Mg2SnO4 and stannic oxide SnO2. SEM micrographs showed that the morphologies of the powders formed were changed by increasing the calcination temperature from 800 to 1200 degrees C from foam-like structure to rectangular-plate shape. Coulter LS 13 320 showed that the average particle size diameter was about 4.43 mu m. The results indicated that the calcination time, calcination temperature and surfactant addition were significant on the produced magnesium stannate mean diameter. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.