In the title compound, C(18)H(19)NO(2), the five-membered ring of the indane fragment adopts an envelope conformation with the unsubstituted carbon atom at the flap displaced by 0.412 (3) Å from the plane formed by the other four atoms. The nitro group forms a dihedral angle of 5.3 (2)° with the indane benzene ring while the dihedral angle between the phenyl ring and the indane benzene ring is 76.74 (9)°.