An efficient heterogeneous acid catalyst was developed using cenospheres, a byproduct of coal-fired thermal power plants by the method of wet impregnation. Catalyst characterization was carried out using various analytical techniques, namely, Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, field emission gun scanning electron microscopy and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area and surface acidity analysis. The characterization revealed the excellent catalytic activity of the catalyst for the esterification reaction of n-octanol and acetic acid. Various reaction parameters, namely, catalyst loading, a molar ratio of alcohol/acid and reaction temperature were evaluated and optimized by response surface methodology using the Box–Behnken model. The response surface methodology model equations corresponding to the conversion of acid and % yield of ester were developed. The model well predicted the optimal reaction conditions, which were validated experimentally with good agreement. The excellent catalytic performance was observed in the esterification reaction with high conversion of acid (95.34%) and high yield of n-octyl acetate (94.81%). Reusability study of the catalyst showed that the catalyst could be used efficiently up to three reaction cycles. This study explores the use of cenospheres to prepare a solid acid catalyst for the industrially important esterification reactions.