A novel K2Ba(WO4)2:Sm3+ red phosphors were synthesized by high temperature solid state reaction. The crystal structure, morphology and luminescent properties were investigated by XRD, SEM and photoluminescence spectra, respectively. The results show that the phosphors belong to rhombohedral crystal structure, and exhibit strong excitation spectra at 402 nm, which matches well with near-UV LED chips. Upon excitation at 402 nm, the 4G5/2→6HJ(J=5/2, 7/2, 9/2, 11/2) transitions of Sm3+ are observed, and the strongest peak locates at 602 nm corresponding to the 4G5/2→6H7/2 transition of Sm3+. The optimized concentration of Sm3+ is found to be x=0.02 and the critical distance of Sm3+ is obtained to be about 2.776 nm. The concentration quenching mechanism is the electric dipole-electric dipole interaction. ©, 2015, Chinese Ceramic Society. All right reserved.