Rare earth Yttrium doped Co0·85Zn0.15YxFe2-xO4 ferrites were synthesized by the standard double sintering method. The basic structure and phase formation of the samples were studied by the technique of XRD, reporting the formation of spinel cubic structure. Structural X-ray density was always greater than the bulk density. The microstructural grain size was obtained by SEM and confirmed that the microstructural grain size decreased at initial doping of Y3+ ion. The VSM shows the saturation magnetization decreases with increasing Y content but we get comparatively large retentivity and coercivity of the doped samples. Frequency dependent permeability measurements show that the initial permeability was stable in a long frequency range up to 108 Hz and the magnetic loss tangent was decreased with increasing Y content. All the structural and magnetic properties make these Co–Zn–Y ferrites more suitable for magnetic recording materials. •Co0·85Zn0.15YxFe2-xO4 ferrites were synthesized by the standard double sintering method.•XRD shows the phase formation of the samples and confirms that the samples are spinel cubic.•SEM images clearly show the surface morphology of the ferrites.•VSM provides the M−H loop properties of the samples, and confirms that the doped samples have more coercivity than the pure Co–Zn samples.