BACKGROUND In this study was evaluated the effect of carbamide peroxide (CP) and hydrogen peroxide (HP) in different concentrations on hardness, roughness, and color parameters (color change - ΔE, lightness - ΔL, and yellow-blue axis - Δb) of bovine teeth. METHODS Fifty square dental blocks (7 x 7 x 2 mm) were submitted to initial readings of Knoop hardness, surface roughness (Ra), and color parameters. Specimens were divided into 5 groups (n = 10): control group was kept in artificial saliva during the experimental period; CP 20% was bleached for 2 h daily for 14 days, HP 9.5% was bleached for 30 min daily for 14 days, HP 38% the bleaching gel was applied for 15 min, gel was removed and it was reapplied for two more times, the bleaching session was repeated for another 2 times every 7 days, totaling three sessions, and in CP 45% three sessions of 30 min each were performed of 7 in 7 days. All groups after the bleaching procedures had the bleaching gel removed, washed, and kept in artificial saliva. At the end of bleaching treatment, the hardness, roughness, and color parameters (ΔE, ΔL, and Δb) were re-evaluated. Data were analyzed by ANOVA, Tukey, and Dunnett tests (α = 0.05). RESULTS Bleaching promoted a reduction in hardness, the CP 45% showed the lowest hardness and the CP 20% the highest, the HP 9.5% and HP 38% showed intermediate values of hardness. Bleaching agents did not affect the roughness. CP 20% and HP 38% promoted the highest values of ΔE and higher reduction of yellowish tone of tooth. Lightness increase after bleaching treatment for all groups. CONCLUSIONS All the bleaching agents tested showed effectiveness, but with reduced hardness. Key words:Carbamide peroxide, hydrogen peroxide, tooth whitening, hardness, roughness.