In the present study, the effect of Ni content on densification and grain growth in Ni doped W compacts was investigated by using the dilatometric analysis. The Ni-doped W compacts with various amount of Ni activator from 0.02 to 0.4 wt% were sintered in hydrogen atmosphere up to 1400°C. As the amount of Ni and heating rates, the Ni-doped W compacts show a greatly different dilatometric behavior during the sintering. The sintered specimen was densified over 98% of theoretical density by adding only 0.06 wt% Wi in sub-micron W powder and the appropriate heating rate. It was also observed that the microstructure development strongly depended on the change of the Ni amount. In addition, it was found that the critical content of Ni showing large grain growth in microstructure was below 0.1 wt%.