Pure hexagonal β-NaGdF 4 and Eu 3+ or Pr 3+-doped β-NaGdF 4 nanocrystals in shape of nanorods of ∼140 nm of length have been synthesized using a simple and rapid coprecipitation method. XRD analysis evidenced pure single phases exhibiting characteristic luminescence of Eu 3+ or Pr 3+ ions when excited under UV or blue radiations. Samples gave rise to intense orange-red emission and quite white emission in the case of respectively Eu 3+ or Pr 3+ doped samples. Optical properties are discussed in the frame of Judd-Ofelt theory and considering that an energy transfer occurs between active ions. Notably it was found that the quantum-cutting by a two-step energy transfer from Gd 3+ to Eu 3+ can improve the red emission of Eu 3+ ions under near-VUV excitation. Such quantum-cutting mechanism has been also considered in the case of Pr 3+ doped β-NaGdF 4. However, the efficiency of both processes in comparison with literature suggest that only one part of the energy in the excited states within Gd 3+ can be transferred to Eu 3+ for its red emission. In the case of Pr 3+ ions, the energy is more probably released through the self-trapped exciton emission certainly due to the lack of resonant VUV excitation.