In this study, transesterification reaction of canola oil with butanol over calcium oxide alumina catalyst was investigated with varying butanol:lipid molar ratios, catalyst amount and reaction time. Catalysts were prepared with the single step sol-gel method, and the activity of synthesized catalysts were investigated for two different forms of catalysts as powder and structured form. In the case of powdered catalysts, at butanol:lipid molar ratios of 9 and 24 with 6 wt% of lipids as catalyst amount, leaded 32% and 45% butyl esters yield in 1 hour. On the other hand, ~70% butyl esters yield has obtained at butanol:lipid molar ratios of 48 and 60 for the reaction time of 1 hour, while 89% yield had achieved when the reaction lasted for 4 hours at butanol:lipid molar ratio of 48. The necessity of mild basic strength and high butanol:lipid molar ratio was found to obtain high butyl esters yield. At high butanol lipid ratios of 48 and 60, it was observed that glycerolysis reaction occurs and promotes reverse transesterification reactions in first 30 minutes of the experiments. In the case of structured catalysts, lower butyl esters yields than powder catalysts were obtained, yet they eliminated the need for catalysts separation step in the experiments. Reusability tests showed that catalyst activity has decreased due to calcium ion leaching in the first hour of reaction and kept its activity constant for the rest of the reaction.