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 C atom, acting as the flap atom, deviating by 0.412 (3) Å from the plane through the remaining four atoms. The dihedral angle between the nitro-phenyl ring and the indane benzene ring is 72.5 (1)°. The distances from the two O atoms to the plane of the adjacent benzene ring are 0.113 (4) and 0.064 (4) Å.