Red phosphors SrMoO₄:Pr³⁺ have been successfully synthesized by hydrothermal method. Their crystal structure, morphology and photoluminescent property were characterized by means of X-ray diffractometer (XRD), field environmental scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The results show that the phosphors synthesized are a single phase of SrMoO₄:Pr³⁺ with classical octahedral structure. The main excitation peaks are located at 450, 473 and 485 nm, respectively. The main emission peaks are located at 606, 625 and 650 nm, respectively. The phosphors exhibit a red performance at 650 nm, which are appropriate to the blue LED. The luminescent intensity of SrMoO₄:Pr³⁺ increases with the increasing doping amount of Pr³⁺. The luminescent intensity has the optimal value when x=0.02. However, the concentration quenching phenomenon appears when the doping amount of Pr³⁺ further increases. Under the excitation of 450 nm, the strongest emission peak emerged at 650 nm, corresponding to ³P₀→³F₂ transitions. The SrMoO₄:Pr³⁺ phosphors are promising red-emitting phosphors by blue excitation for white light emitting diodes.