The　magnetocaloric　properties　of　the　as-consolidated　nanocrystalline　and　coarse-grained　gadolinium　metals　were　studied　in　the　present　work.　With　the　decrease　of　Gd　grains　from　micrometer　to　nanometer　range,　magnetic　entropy　change　drops　surprising　from　10.07　to　4.47 J kg　−1　 K　−1　at　a　magnetic-field　change　of　5 T,　and　their　resultant　magnetic　entropy　change　uniformly　peaks　at　294,　290,　and　288 K,　respectively,　corresponding　to　the　magnetic　transition　temperature　of　the　three　samples.　The　Curie　temperature　T　C　of　the　nanocrystalline　Gd　shifts　by　more　than　6 K　below　that　of　coarse-grained　Gd　sample.　However,　the　values　of　magnetic　entropy　change　of　the　nanocrystalline　metals　exhibit　a　more　constant　tendency　compared　with　the　coarse-grained　sample.　The　Arrott　plots　indicate　the　second-order　character　of　magnetic　phase　transition　still　in　the　nanocrystalline　Gd　metals.　The　refrigerant　capacity　calculated　is　also　used　to　evaluate　material　refrigeration　capacity.　©　2011,　The　Author(s).