In the molecule of the title low-melting α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid, C11H20O2, the least-squares mean line through the octyl chain forms an angle of 60.10 (13)° with the normal to plane of the acrylic acid fragment (r.m.s. deviation = 0.008 Å). In the crystal, centrosymmetrically related molecules are linked by pairs of O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds into dimers, forming layers parallel to the (041) plane.