We estimate the Hubbard parameters for density-functional-theory (DFT)+ U calculations of ZrO2, HfO2, TiO2, and NiO based on calibrating the electronic structure obtained from hybrid functional methods. The electronic density of states is used to assess the parameters and the values thus derived are employed for the full electron and phonon dispersion comparisons. The resulting values account for experimental band gaps and electron correlations that are computationally much less demanding to treat within the simpler DFT + U framework than with the typically more accurate yet expensive hybrid functional methods. Limitations of +U scheme is indicated towards describing TiO2 and HfO2 phase-stability. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.