The M3 (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) Y2 (BO3)4 : Eu3+ red phosphor was synthesized by firing twice at 800 and 1 050 degrees C each for 4 h and 4 h in air, respectively. Y2O3 (99.9%), Eu2O3 (99.9%), H3BO3 (99.9%), CaCO3 (99.9%), SrCO3 (99.9%), BaCO3 (99.9%), Li2CO3 (99.9%), Na2CO3 (99.9%) and K2CO3 (99.9%) were used as starting materials, and the doping Eu3+ concentration was 3 mol%. The excitation spectrum was measured by a SHIMADZU RF-540 ultraviolet spectrophotometer. The emission spectrum was measured by a SPEX1404 spectrophotometer. All the luminescence characteristics of the phosphors were investigated at room temperature. The emission spectrum of M3 (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) Y2 (BO3)4 : Eu3+ phosphor exhibited a 613 nm red emission corresponding to the electric dipole 55D0 - 7F2 transition of Eu3+ under 365 nm excitation. The excitation spectrum for 613 nm indicates that the phosphor can be effectively excited by ultraviolet (UV) (254, 365 and 400 nm) and blue (470 nm) light. The effect of Li+ , Na+ and K+ on the excitation and emission spectra of M3 (M = Ca, Sr, Ba)Y2 (BO3)4 : Eu3+ phosphor was studied. The results show that the location of the excitation and emission spectrum of M3 (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) Y2 (BO3)4 : Eu3+ phosphor was not influenced by Li+, Na+ and K+. However, the excitation and emission spectrum intensities were greatly influenced by Li+, Na+ and K+, and the emission peak intensities were all enhanced. Under the condition of the same Li+, Na+ and K+ concentration, the emission peak intensities of M3 (M = Ca, Sr, Ba)Y2 (BO3)4 : Eu3+ phosphor were compared, and the result shows that the accretion effect of doping Li+ is the best. The effect of Li+ concentration on the emission peak intensity of Sr3 Y2 (BO3)4 : Eu3+ phosphor was studied. The results show that the emission peak intensity firstly increased with the increasing Li+ concentration, then decreased, and reached the maximum value at 5 mol% Li+, and the maximum value is about twice as much as the Li-undoped one.