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Magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in ErFeAl and HoFeAl intermetallic compounds have been studied systematically. Both compounds undergo a second order magnetic phase transition from paramagnetic to ferromagnetic state together with a probable spin reorientation transition at low temperature. A considerable reversible magnetocaloric effect was observed around its own Curie temperatures T C ∼55 K and 80 K for ErFeAl and HoFeAl, respectively. For a magnetic field change of 0–7 T, the maximum values of magnetic entropy change (−Δ S M max ) are found to be 8.3 and 9.9 J/kg K for RE = Er and Ho, respectively. The corresponding values of refrigerant capacity ( RC ) are evaluated to be 384 and 647 J/kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]