In the current study, the sources of variation in the mean hardness value of heat treated aluminum 2024 samples were identified by using metallurgical study and design of experiments methodology (full factorial method). Hardness measurements and microstructural investigations of the samples were carried out by using Brinell hardness test and optical microscopy, respectively. The effects of several control factors including solution treatment temperature, aging temperature, and aging time on the hardness were evaluated. The main and interactions effects of the factors were studied by means of analysis of variance (ANOVA) technique. Moreover, the best model which can estimate the hardness of the heat treated Al2024 specimens was found whereas the aging temperature and interaction of aging time and aging temperature had significant effects on the hardness value. Finally, the results of the statistical analysis were used to find the optimum conditions of the factors in order to get the maximum hardness of the samples. After solution treatment (530oC) and 12 h of aging (180oC), the optimum hardness of the heat treated Al2024 alloy samples was about 133 Brinell, which is in good agreement with the value estimated by the model (~131 Brinell).