Silica aerogels were synthesized through an ambient pressure drying technique, and the porosities of the aerogels were tailored over a wide range, by varying the experimental parameters such as hydrolysis temperature, gelation pH, aging pH and aging solvent. Pore size, pore volume and surface area could tailor between 6.2-18 nm, 0.99-2.04 cc g(-1) and 452-635 m(2) g(-1) respectively by changing the hydrolysis-condensation conditions. By varying the aging pH from 3 to 11, pore size and pore volume was tailored in between 5.8-13.4 nm and 0.88-1.45 cc g(-1) respectively. The investigation will be highly beneficial for the synthesis of tailor made silica aerogels at ambient conditions. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.