A simple pressing process using zirconia and microbead for fabricating porous zirconia ceramics is demonstrated. Effects of microbead content and sintering temperature on microstructure, porosity, compressive and flexural strengths were investigated in the processing of porous zirconia ceramics using microbead as a pore former. By controlling the microbead content and the sintering temperature, it was possible to produce porous zirconia ceramics with porosities ranging from 43% to 70%. Typical compressive and flexural strength values at ${sim}50%$ porosity were ${sim}150;MPa$ and ${sim}35;MPa$, respectively.