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The magnetocaloric effect and refrigeration capacity (RC) of Gd(55)Co(20)Al(25) and Gd(55)Ni(25)Al(20) bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) have been investigated. Large magnetic entropy changes Delta S(M) of 11.2 and 10.8 J kg(-1) K(-1) and large RC values of 846 and 920 J kg(-1) are obtained for Gd(55)Co(20)Al(25) and Gd(55)Ni(25)Al(20), respectively, at a field change of 7 T. The RC value (640 J kg(-1) at 5 T or 920 J kg(-1) at 7 T) of Gd(55)Ni(25)Al(20) BMG is larger than that reported for all magnetocaloric materials, including crystalline and amorphous materials measured under the same conditions. The large RC value is due to the broad Delta S(M) peak (more than 100 K), which is caused by the disordered structure of an amorphous material. The large Delta S(M) and RC values make these Gd-based ternary BMGs attractive candidates for magnetic refrigeration applications. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics.