Barium bismuth niobate, Ba (1-x) Bi (2+2x/3) Nb 2 O 9 (BBN with x=0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4) ceramic powders in the nanometer range were prepared by chemical precursor decomposition method (CPD). The single phase layered perovskite was prepared throughout the composition range studied. No intermediate phase was found during heat treatment at and above 600°C. The crystallite size and the particle size, obtained from XRD and TEM respectively, were in the range of 15-30 nm. The addition of Bi 2 O 3 substantially improved the sinterability associated with high density (96%) which was otherwise difficult in the case of pure BaBi 2 Nb 2 O 9 (BBN x=0.0). The sintering was done at 900°C for 4 h. The relative permittivity of BBN ceramics at both room temperature and in the vicinity of the temperature of maximum permittivity (T m ) has increased significantly with increase in bismuth content and loss is also decreased to a certain level of bismuth doping. T m increased with increase in Bi 2 O 3 . The diffuseness (γ) in the phase transition was found to increase from 1.54 to 1.98 with the increase in Ba 2+ substitution level from x=0.0 to x=0.3.