Trace element geochemical and LA-ICP-MS U–Pb data of detrital rutile grains from Jurassic sandstones of the Bayırköy Formation exposed in the western part of the Sakarya Zone were presented to characterize and differentiate potential source lithologies. The Bayırköy Formation commence with coarse-grained conglomerate at the bottom and passes up to medium to coarse-grained sandstone. Fine-grained marl occurs on top of the Bayırköy Formation. This uppermost level of the Bayırköy Formation is separated as nodular limy levels, clayey and marly nodular levels. The Jurassic Bayırköy Formation in northwestern Türkiye was deposited in a mixed continental–marine setting, reflecting the transition from fluvial–deltaic systems into shallow marine environments. The Jurassic sandstones are yellowish brown-colored, medium to coarse-grained and well-bedded, which exhibits shoreface to tidal flat facies suggesting a coastal transition zone with tidal influence. The Nb and Cr contents in rutile grains are in the range of 40–11900 μg/g and 6–5700 μg/g, respectively. According to the Cr–Nb discrimination, the great majority of detrital rutile grains (70 %) are sourced from metapelitic rocks such as mica schists and paragneisses, the rest of detrital rutile grains (30 %) are derived from metamafic rocks such as amphibolites, eclogites and metagabbros. Trace element composition of detrital rutile grains demonstrate that the source rock lithology is predominantly metapelitic in origin. The Zr-in-rutile temperatures range from 480 °C to 790 °C, which indicates amphibolite-facies metamorphic conditions. The U–Pb age data of detrital rutile grains range from 313 Ma (n = 72, MSWD = 2.6) to 330 Ma (n = 53, MSWD = 2.5), which yields the age of metamorphism for the potential source rocks of detrital rutile grains in the Sakarya Zone. Trace element ­composition, Zr-in-rutile temperatures and rutile U–Pb age data exhibit potentially derivation from metamorphic source rocks which underwent metamorphism in amphibolite-facies conditions during Early Carboniferous. Exposures with Variscan amphibolite-facies metamorphic basement rocks can be assumed as likely sources for these sandstones in the Jurassic Bayırköy Formation. Amphibolite-facies metamorphic rocks in the Sakarya Zone seem to be the primary source lithologies for the detrital rutiles in the Jurassic sandstones. Another conceivable source for detrital rutile grains could be syn- to post-tectonic Carboniferous granites, mesothermal gold deposits and granite-pegmatite-hosted W–Sn mineralization owing to high elevated Sn and W concentrations in detrital rutile grains.