Objective To prepare Ti/ Cr-RE coatings on 304 stainless steel with suitable rare earth elements so as to improve corrosion resistance of stainless steel. Methods The Ti coating and Cr-RE coating were deposited on 304 stainless steel successively via pack cementation. In order to obtain two different Ti / Cr-RE coatings, Y2 O3 and CeO2 were used as RE sources. The sample surface and cross-sectional micrographs were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The phase composition of sample surface was detected by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Electrochemical experiments were carried out to investigate the corrosion resistance of the 304 stainless steel substrate and the two kinds of Ti / Cr-RE double-layer coating in 3. 5% NaCl solution. Results It was concluded from all the outcomes that the dense and continuous Cr-RE coatings can be formed on the Ti stainless steel by adding rare earth elements Y and Ce. In the two kinds of Cr coatings modified by rare earth elements, intermetallic compounds were formed from the rare earth elements with Cr, Fe, Ni, and Ti respectively. The corresponding corrosion potential of 304 stainless steel was -0. 324 V, and the corrosion current density was 0. 1363 μA / cm2 . The corresponding corrosion potential of Cr-Y coating was -0. 341 V and the corrosion current density was 0. 2058 μA / cm2 ,while the Cr-Ce coating presented higher corresponding corrosion potential of -0. 263 V and lower corrosion current density of 0. 030 86 μA / cm2 . Conclusion The Cr-Y coating does not show a promotion in electrochemical corrosion resistance compared with 304 stainless steel, while the Cr-Ce coating presents a good performance in electrochemical corrosion resistance in 3. 5% NaCl solution.