We have measured the thermal expansion of several Fe-rich compounds with the ThMn 12 structure. The series RFe 11.3 Nb 0.7 (R=Y, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho and Er), Ho(Fe 1Àx Ni x ) 11.3 Nb 0.7 with x ¼ 020:3; YFe 11 Ti and YFe 10 Mo 2 have been investigated in the temperature range 150-800 K. In the Fe-rich compounds with stabilizing element T=Nb and Ti, a pronounced positive spontaneous volume magnetostriction has been observed below the Curie temperature. The effect of Ni substitution for Fe on the volume effect and on the Curie temperature has been analyzed studying the Ho(Fe 1Àx Ni x ) 11.3 Nb 0.7 compounds. The different magnitude of the magnetovolume effect observed in YFe 11.3 Nb 0.7 , YFe 11 Ti and YFe 10 Mo 2 is explained in terms of the classical model for itinerant ferromagnets. r