Densification of alumina powder, grain size and fracture toughness of sintered body by hot pressing after cold compaction were investigated and compared to traditional hot pressing process (without cold cyclic compaction). To achieve a higher densification and to reduce the hot pressing time, hot pressing after cold cyclic compaction was more efficient compared to traditional hot pressing. This phenomenon resulted from the increment of packing densityby the acceleration fo rearrangement of powders under cold cyclic compaction. The grain size of sintered body was only dependent on relative density, and densification during hot pressing was governed by thelattice diffusion. Comprisons of grain size, densification mechanism and fracture toughness resulted from hot pressing after/without cold cyclic compaction showed that a low cyclic pressure may not effect on the fragmentation of alumina powders.