In present investigation, γ-alumina nanoparticles with less than 10 nm sizes and high surface area was prepared using sol–gel method in presence of aluminum isopropoxide as an aluminum precursor, distilled water, acetic acid as hydrolysis rate controller and 1-butanol, tert-butanol and 2-propanol as solvent. The effects of solvent type on textural properties of the as-received and heat treated γ-alumina were investigated. The received powder was characterized by simultaneous thermal analysis (DTA/TGA) method. The calcined γ-alumina nanoparticles were characterized using X-Ray diffractometer (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nitrogen adsorption-desorption techniques. This study revealed that the solvent types, weight ratios of reactants, calcination temperature and time were important factors to preparation of γ-alumina with high surface area (in the range of 339–351 m2/g) and relatively narrow pore size distribution.