The crystal structure, magnetic anisotropy and magnetoelasticity of epitaxial SrTi0.87Fe0.13O3−δ (STF13) and SrTi0.65Fe0.35O3−δ (STF35) films grown on (001), (011), and (111) oriented SrTiO3 substrates were investigated. The films grew with compressive in-plane strain and underwent tetragonal, monoclinic, and rhombohedral distortions on the (001), (011), and (111) substrates, respectively. All samples showed room temperature magnetic hysteresis loops with strong out-of-plane anisotropy. The resulting magnetoelastic anisotropy was an order of magnitude greater than the magnetocrystalline and shape anisotropies. Magnetoelastic coefficients of B1 =− 6.7 × 106 and B2 =− 28 to −26 × 106 erg cm−3 for STF13 and B1 =− 2.0 × 106 and B2 =− 5.4 to −3.9 × 106 erg cm−3 for STF35 were determined from the magnetic anisotropy and lattice strain, corresponding to magnetostriction constants of λ100 = 2.09 × 10−6 and λ111 = 7.68 × 10−6 for STF13, and λ100 = 0.62 × 10−6 and λ111 = 1.07 × 10−6 for STF35.