The magnetic properties of Ho2Fe17 − xMnx compounds (x = 0–2) of ferromagnetic ordering temperatures up to TC ~344 K have been investigated by DC magnetization and Mössbauer effect measurements. The nature of the magnetic phase transitions and the critical behaviour around TC has been investigated by analysis of the magnetisation data and the critical exponents β, γ and δ determined. The critical exponents are found to be similar to the theoretical values of the mean-field model for which β = 0.5 and γ = 1.0, indicating the existence of a long-range ferromagnetic interactions. The isothermal entropy changes ΔS around TC have been determined as a function of temperature in different magnetic fields.