Abstract We present details of the microstructural properties of Y- (Ba₂Mg₂Fe₁₂O₂₂, Ba_0.5Sr_1.5Zn₂Fe₁₂O₂₂, Ba_0.5Sr_1.5Zn₂Al_0.08Fe11.92O₂₂) and Z-type (Sr₃Co₂Fe₂₄O₄₁) hexaferrite thick films deposited by screen printing and drop casting on unpolished polycrystalline Al₂O₃ substrates. The hexaferrites thick films obtained by drop casting exhibited considerable roughness and porousness compared with those obtained by screen printing. We found that the powders’ morphology significantly affects the microstructure of the thick films formed by screen printing. The microstructural analysis of the thick films shows that their microstructure differs from that of the powders. Further, during the annealing process the grains in the thick films grow and form hexagonal particles, the latter having the largest size, best shape and being best observed in the case of the Ba₂Mg₂Fe₁₂O₂₂ film.