Abstract Titanium dioxide was prepared using pulsed laser ablation (PLA) and hydrothermal method. Scanning electron microscopy images showed that the product from hydrothermal method had a nanotube shape, whereas those from PLA in liquid were nanoparticles. The optical properties in the absorption curve of product from the hydrothermal method were slightly greater than those from the PLA method, and the energy gaps were 3.39 and 3.26 eV for the hydrothermal method and PLA, respectively. XRD results showed that the TiO2 prepared through PLA showed one phase (rutile), whereas those prepared through hydrothermal method showed two phases (anatase and rutile). Moreover, the product from hydrothermal method had smaller particle size smaller than that from PLA. Furthermore, the product yield and the required reaction time of the hydrothermal method were higher than those of PLA.