Two sol–gel methods (the citric acid gel and the Pechini methods) were used for the preparation of nano-sized undoped, Bi-doped and Bi, Cu co-doped SrTiO₃ samples to optimize their properties for the photocatalytic degradation of dibutyl phthalate. The perovskite-like phase was detected for the samples prepared by the citric acid gel method after calcination at 800 °C for 3 h, while in the case of the Pechini method; it was detected after calcination at 800 °C for 9 h. The particle size of the samples prepared by the citric acid gel method is greater than that of the samples prepared by the Pechini method. Cu doping in both methods increased the particle size. Cu doping, Bi doping and Bi, Cu co-doping in both methods shifted the absorption edge to the visible light range as well. The band gap of Bi, Cu co-doped SrTiO₃ is smaller than that of Bi doped SrTiO₃, which in turn is smaller than that of undoped SrTiO₃. The highest removal of the total organic carbon (TOC) of DBP was obtained using a Bi, Cu co-doped SrTiO₃ sample prepared by the citric acid gel method. TOC removal of DBP followed pseudo-first order kinetics.