In the current work two different routes, an alkoxide based sol-gel and an aqueous solution-gel route, were used to synthesize PZT (30/70) powders. The phase purity, morphology and particle size of both were studied by XRD, TEM and particle size analysis. The dispersion behavior of the powders in water was investigated by means of light scattering particle size analyzer and zeta potential measurements. The extent to which powder morphology, synthesis route and particle charge state relate to the resulting dispersion behaviour was established. Alkoxide sol-gel derived powders are better dispersed in aqueous media than aqueous solution-gel derived powders.