The work aims to study effects of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on microstructure and properties of Nickel-phosphorus electroless plating. Carbon nanotubes were added in plating bath, and Nickel-phosphorus-carbon nanotubes (CNTs) composite coatings were prepared by electroless plating on 45# steel. Morphology and structure of composite coating were analyzed with scanning elctron microscope and X-ray diffractometer, respectively. Friction and wear properties of the composite coating were studied with surface property tester for multifunctional materials. The electrochemical corrosion behavior of Ni-P-CNTs coatings in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution was studied by performing potentiodynamic polarization. Ni-P-CNTs chemical composite coating was amorphous with CNTs uniformly embedded in coating substrate. The abrasion resistance test showed that wear rate of Ni-P-CNTs composite coatings was 7.6×10?11 m3/(N?m) lower than that of Ni-P coating, and its average friction factor decreased by 0.074. In the electrochemical corrosion test, corrosion potential of Ni-P-CNTs composite coatings (Ecorr) was 222 mV higher than that of Ni-P plating while its corrosion current (Jcorr) was 5.234×10?6 A/cm2 smaller than that of Ni-P coatings. Carbon nanotubes can fill gaps between the nickel-phosphorus non-cell and improve microstructure of composite coatings, so as to provide better resistance to friction, wear and corrosion for Ni-P-CNTs electroless composite coatings.