Display omitted •ZrO2 and YSZ aerogels derived by combining sol-gel method and supercritical drying.•Evolution of crystallinity was observed by in-situ XRD measurements up to 1200 °C.•Phase transformation of zirconia (ZrO2) is affected by crystallite size growth.•Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) aerogel forms stable single-phase t-ZrO2 at 455 °C. Monolithic, structurally stable zirconia (ZrO2) aerogels can be used in high temperature applications and as medical implants. The macroscopic properties of these solids can be fine-tuned by the appropriate thermal treatment of the amorphous aerogels. Herein, we investigate the thermally induced phase transitions of ZrO2 and yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) monolithic aerogels. All aerogels were produced by an acid-catalyzed sol-gel technique and subsequent supercritical drying (SCD). A complete reaction mechanism is proposed for the formation of the wet gel network. Also, the phase transformations taking place during calcination were followed as function of temperature by in-situ X-ray diffraction measurements. Composition and size of the forming crystallites were calculated from the XRD data. Phase transition is controlled by the temperature-dependent growth of crystallite size during calcination up to 1200 °C. Both tetragonal and monoclinic zirconia form in pure ZrO2 aerogels, and a single tetragonal phase forms in YSZ aerogels.