Pure and glycine doped strontium formate dihydrate (SFD) single crystals were grown by the free evaporation method to understand the effect of glycine addition on the structural, thermal, optical. mechanical and electrical properties of SFD crystal. The grown crystals were characterized by carrying out powder X-ray diffraction, high resolution X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectral, Raman spectral, UV-vis-NIR spectral, thermogravimetric (TG/DTA), second harmonic generation (SHG), microhardness and DC electrical conductivity measurements. Results obtained in the present study indicate improvement in crystalline perfection, optical transmittance, and SHG efficiency, and change in microhardness, and DC electrical conductivity on doping SFD with glycine. In addition, a large size (similar to 1.9 cm length, similar to 1.2 cm breath and similar to 0.6 cm height) SFD crystal with good optical quality could be grown successfully by the seeded free evaporation method. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved