Herein, the structural and magnetic properties of cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4 [CFO]) nanomaterials obtained from sol–gel auto‐combustion method using different chelating agent (tartaric acid, citric acid, and oxalic acid) are reported. The obtained precursors from the different chelating agents are calcined at 500 °C for 5 h. The X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis suggests that all the synthesized samples show the single‐phase spinel ferrite structure without existing any secondary impurity phases. The lattice parameter, cell volume, density, crystallite size, and dislocation density are computed for all the synthesized samples utilizing the XRD data. The irregular‐shaped grains morphology with a homogeneous distribution is observed through scanning electron microscopy study. The sample synthesized by using the tartaric acid as a chelating agent shows a high magnetization value, highest coercivity, and highest anisotropy constant (K) when compared to those of other chelating agents. High grain‐boundary activation energy is also observed for the CFO nanomaterials obtained from the tartaric acid as a chelating agent.