A series of Sm 3? , Eu 3? and Sm 3? -Eu 3? doped Ca 3 (PO 4 ) 2 were prepared by a high temperature solid-state method. Their luminescent properties were studied by photoluminescence emission, excitation spectra and decay curves. Under excitation with a wavelength at 403 nm, Ca 3 (PO 4 ) 2 :Sm 3? emits red-orange light, and the dominated peak situates at 602 nm which is due to the 4 G 5/2 ? 6 H 7/2 transition of Sm 3? . Ca 3 (PO 4 ) 2 :Eu 3? produces red light under the 394 nm excitation, and the strongest peak centers at 613 nm, which is assigned to 5 D 0 ? 7 F 2 transition of Eu 3? . The energy transfer from Sm 3? to Eu 3? in Ca 3 (PO 4 ) 2 host has been studied and demonstrated to be a resonant type via a dipole-quadrupole interaction mechanism. The critical distance of Sm 3? -Eu 3? in Ca 3 (PO 4 ) 2 is calculated to be 13.5 Å . With the increase of Eu 3? doping content, the energy transfer efficiency (Sm 3? ? Eu 3? ) obtained from decay curves gradually increases to 30.7 %. Moreover, the emitting color of Ca 3 (PO 4 ) 2 :Sm 3? , Eu 3? can be tuned by appropriately adjusting the relative doping composition of Sm 3? /Eu 3? .