Beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) powders and ceramics doped with vanadate (VO 4 3-) ions were prepared, and the substitution mode of VO 4 3-ions for the β-TCP structure and the mechanical properties were investigated. The synthesized powders consisted of a single β-TCP (0-80 mol%) or Ca 3 (VO 4 ) 2 (100 mol%) phase, and the a and c lattice constants increased linearly up to 100 mol%. These results indicate that the VO 4 3-ions were homogeneously doped at all PO 4 sites in β-TCP. The bending strength increased with the VO 4 3-ion content up to 2.0 mol% because of the improvement in sinterability. However, when the VO 4 3-ion content was above 2.0 mol%, the bending strength decreased because of crack formation and porosity due to excess grain growth. The bending strength of β-TCP ceramics was higher when doped with VO 4 3-ions than with other metal ions; thus, β-TCP ceramics with excellent mechanical properties can be fabricated by substituting a small amount of VO 4 3-ions.