M-type strontium ferrites SrFe12-xCoxO19 (x = 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20) were prepared by the conventional ceramic technology. The structure, magnetic properties and magneto-optical Kerr activity of the samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and magneto-optical ellipsometry, respectively. X-ray diffraction showed that all the samples were single phase ferrites. The magnetic properties, especially the coercive field, were remarkably modified due to the substitution of cobalt. Most importantly, a noticeable Kerr activity was demonstrated in the Co-substituted M-type strontium ferrites with x = 0.20. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.