100(1 - y)wt%(Ba(0.6)Sr(0.4))(Ti(0.8)Zr(0.2))O(3)-100y wt%MgO (BSTZ20-MgO, y = 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7) composite ceramics were synthesized via a solid-state reaction route, aiming at improving the dielectric thermal stability of BST for tunable applications. Excellent dielectric thermal stability (low temperature coefficient of permittivity value) was gained in this system. According to our experiment, diffuse phase transition (DPT) induced by Zr ion substitution, ferroelectric-dilution effect of MgO phase and grain size refinement were considered as contributions to this good dielectric thermal stability. (c) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.