The title compound, C(15)H(16)O(4), was prepared by the reaction of 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-dione and 3,4-dimethyl-benzaldehyde in ethanol. The 1,3-dioxane ring exhibits an envelope conformation. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by weak inter-molecular C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming chains parallel to the b axis.