<p>The simultaneous evaluation between the yield and physicochemical properties in the production of biodiesel from waste cooking oil is of great importance. In this work, an experimental study to produce fatty acid methyl ester (biodiesel) from waste cooking oil (WCO) via transesterification reaction is conducted. The study aims to optimize the maximum yield with the best physicochemical properties for the three main transesterification process parameters: methanol/WCO molar ratio, reaction time and NaOH concentration. Several fuel properties were measured to evaluate the biodiesel product according to the ASTM standards. Accordingly, the optimum values of the reaction condition are as flows: methanol/WCO molar ratio 7.5:1, reaction time 90&#xa0;min and catalyst concentration as 1.0&#xa0;wt. %, whereas the maximum yield was found to be 97.4%. The properties of the biodiesel produced were within the range of the biodiesel standards. The results showed that physicochemical properties for biodiesel obtained values of density of 0.8827&#xa0;g/cm³, kinematic viscosity of 4.785&#xa0;mm²/s, flash point of 145&#xa0;°C and caloric value of 44.084&#xa0;Mj/kg. These results pave the way for further investigations on parameter study.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>