Calibration plots have been developed for temperature sensing by measuring luminescence from Pr3+ doped YAG and Ho3+ doped CaF2. 1D2 lifetime of Pr3+ doped YAG decreased linearly from 187 μs to 110 μs as the sample temperature was changed from 20 °C to 1000 °C. 5F5 lifetime of Ho3+ doped CaF2 varied linearly from 380 μs to 188 μs as the sample temperature was changed from 20 °C to 1000 °C. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)