Borate oxide glass system of composition: 30Y 2 O-43B 2 O 3-7CuO-20ZnO where (Y= Li, Na and K) were prepared using the melt-quenching technique. Some physical properties were studied; such as X-ray diffraction, density, UV-Visible transmission spectra, ESR and FTIR. The density was measured by Archimedes method and the molar volume was calculated. It is found that density and the molar volume show opposite trend. The optical transmission was measured in the spectral range of 200-1100 nm. Some optical properties were determined. The characterized parameters of these filters, i. e. area, center, width, height and full wave at half maximum (FWHM) of band pass, have been estimated. These parameters have been found to be dependent on the alkali type. FTIR spectral studies indicate the presence of triangular and tetrahedral borate structural units. The absorption band observed in the wavelength region 550 nm in these glasses and is the characteristic of Cu 2+ ions. ESR studies suggest that Cu 2+ ions inter into the lattice as copper divalent state.