Polycrystalline powder sample of KSr 4 (BO 3 ) 3 was synthesized by high-temperature solid-state reaction. The influence of different rare earth dopants, i.e. Tb 3+ , Tm 3+ and Ce 3+ , on thermoluminescence (TL) of KSr 4 (BO 3 ) 3 phosphor was discussed. The TL, photoluminescence (PL) and some dosimetric properties of Ce 3+ -activated KSr 4 (BO 3 ) 3 phosphor were studied. The effect of the concentration of Ce 3+ on TL intensity was investigated and the result showed that the optimum Ce 3+ concentration was 0.2mol%. The TL kinetic parameters of KSr 4 (BO 3 ) 3 :0.002 Ce 3+ phosphor were calculated by computer glow curve deconvolution (CGCD) method. Characteristic emission peaking at about 407 and 383nm due to the 4f 0 5d 1 → 2 F (5/2, 7/2) transitions of Ce 3+ ion were observed both in PL and three-dimensional (3D) TL spectra. The dose–response of KSr 4 (BO 3 ) 3 :0.002 Ce 3+ to γ-ray was linear in the range from 1 to 1000mGy. In addition, the decay of the TL intensity of KSr 4 (BO 3 ) 3 :0.002 Ce 3+ was also investigated.