In this study, the fabrication of silica‐grafted‐sulfonated styrene (S‐g‐SSt) resin by grafting of styrene onto silanized silica via gamma radiation‐induced polymerization and subsequent sulfonation of the grafted styrene is described. The grafting was strongly affected by the reaction conditions; absorbed dose, monomer concentration, and the type of solvent used. The structural analysis of the silica and all the relevant products were carried out by FTIR, SEM, TGA, XRD, and BET. FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of styrene onto silica and subsequent sulfonation. The BET nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms indicated that grafting occurs on the surface as well as inside the pores. Finally, the ion exchange capacity (IEC) of the fabricated S‐g‐SSt was evaluated by ion exchange titrations (back titration method). The IEC was found to be in the range of 0.43–2.97 meq/g depending on the degree of grafting. The facile fabrication method and high IEC value (2.97 meq/g) could lead to potential application of the fabricated S‐g‐SSt resin in ion exchange resin in waste water treatment and metal recovery. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 137, 48835.