MgTe6O13, magnesium hexa-tellurate(IV), is isotypic with the structures of divalent first-row transition metal analogues MTe6O13 (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni and Zn). The asymmetric unit contains one Mg, two Te and five O atoms of which the Mg and one O atom lie on a threefold rotation axis. The structure is made up from slightly distorted [MgO6] octa-hedra (isolated from each other), distorted [TeO4] bis-phenoids and [TeO4 + 1] tetra-gonal pyramids sharing corners and edges. This arrangement leads to the formation of a dense three-dimensional structure.