Single crystals of LuAG:Ce co-doped with Ca2+ were grown by the vertical Bridgman method and studied for optical properties, γ-irradiation induced absorption, scintillation light yield and decay. It is shown that addition of Ca2+ may efficiently limit the radiation induced absorption associated with presence of trace amounts of Yb. In bulk crystals with balanced Ca2+/Ce concentration the absorption induced in the emission range around 520nm is less than 1m−1, after the dose 1kGy and 860Gy/h dose rate. The light yield of LuAG:Ce upon co-doping with Ca2+ is preserved, while the fraction of the delayed recombination leading to slow scintillation components is decreased. The effects of Ca2+ were not favorable in Pr-doped LuAG studied so far. The absorption induced in the emission range around 300–400nm range in the Ca-free LuAG:Pr, after the irradiation dose 1kGy, is about 35m−1, while it is above 100m−1 in the Ca co-doped LuAG:Pr.