The dielectric properties of Ba 0.96 Sr 0.04 Zr 0.04 Ln x Ti 0.96-x O 3-d (Ln ¼ Y, Dy, Gd, Yb) ceramics were investigated in this work. The permittivity dependence on temperature showed the Curie temperature of the investigated ceramic samples was around 100 8C. The permittivity (>10000) at room temperature is obtained when the x is 0.004 and 0.003 for Y 3þ and Dy 3þ , respectively. The origin of the dielectric abnormality may result from the amphoteric properties of Y 3þ and Dy 3þ .