Zinc stannate (Zn SnO ) and Zn SnO codoped with Eu and Ca (ZTO:Eu,Ca) were synthesized by hydrothermal method and characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), Raman spectrometer, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) and photoluminescence (PL) spectrophotometers. PL analysis of Zn SnO gives broad defect induced emission in the region 500-750 nm. The crystal structure of Zn SnO was retained even with a nominal doping of Eu, Ca and its combination in the Zn SnO . The Eu ions were found to occupy the non-centrosymmetric sites of the Zn SnO and gave emissions at 592, 615 and 702 nm. Zn SnO :Eu,Ca showed red emission at 615 nm attributed to the electronic transition from the excited state D → F of the 4f configuration of Eu . Nominal codoping of Eu and Ca ions promoted the quenching of orange emission from Eu in Zn SnO :Eu,Ca.