In this study, nano-crystalline vanadium carbide was synthesized through reduction of V2O5 by carbon and Ca using high energy ball milling and subsequent heat treatment. Vanadium pentoxide, calcium and carbon black were placed in a planetary ball mill and sampled after different milling times. The activated powders were synthesized by microwave heating at temperatures 800 degrees C. XRD and FESEM were used for characterization of synthesized powder. On the basis of obtained results, the synthesized V8C7 crystallites were in the scale of nanometers and the lattice parameter had some deviation from the standard value. Furthermore, investigations showed that at higher milling time, the amorphization degree of V4C3 phase increased, while the degree of crystallite decreased. Crown Copyright (C) 2014 The Society of Powder Technology Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.