Nanosized $WO_3$ powders were synthesized by the sol-precipitation process using $WCl_{6}$ as the starting material, ethanol as a solvent and $NH_4$OH solution as a precipitant, followed by a washing-drying treatment and calcination. The effects on the powder crystallinity and microstructure of calcination temperature were investigated with XRD and FE-SEM. The $WO_3$ powders calcined at $500^{circ}C$ and $700^{circ}C$ showed good crystallinity and their mean particle size was 30nm and 70nm, respectively. These powders were used for the preparation of pastes which were printed as thick films on alumina substrates with comb-type Pt electrodes. The particle size strongly influenced the $NO_2$ gas sensing property of the thick films. A significant reduction in the $NO_2$ sensitivity was observed for the film prepared from larger particle size, having thus a larger grain size. For the film having a smaller grain size, on the other hand, the higher $NO_2$ sensitivity was observed and the sensitivity increased with $NO_2$ concentration.