The work aims to improve tribological performance of the 316L stainless steel coatings by investigating the evolutions of structures and properties of the coatings at different heat-treatment temperatures. 316L stainless steel coatings were fabricated by atmospheric plasma spray (APS) and then the as-sprayed coating was heat-treated at 300~700 ℃. Microstructure and phase compositions of the coatings were analyzed by optical microscopy (OM) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD). Micro-hardness of the coatings was measured by Vickers hardness tester. Friction coefficients and wear volume were tested by the tribometer and three-dimensional optical profilometer. The worn surface was inspected by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and the wear mechanisms were discussed deeply. The as-sprayed 316L stainless steel coating had a thickness of approximately 350 ?m and a microhardness of 335HV0.1. There existed unmelted particles, pores and oxides in the coating. The friction coefficient of the coating stabilized around 0.75 and the wear rate was (1.329±0.14)×10?5 mm3/(N?m). With the increase of heat treatment temperature, oxidation behavior between the splats was clear whereas the pores became narrowed and the microstructure of the coatings was more compacted, resulting in an increase of the hardness of the coating by 30%. The wear resistance of the coating reached the best at 700 ℃ and the wear rate was (1.149±0.26)×10?5 mm3/(N?m) which reduced by 14% compared with that of the as-sprayed coating. Wear mechanisms were dominated by fatigue and adhesion wear. Heat treatment is beneficial to increase the microhardness of 316L stainless steel coatings and heat treatment at 700 ℃ can effectively improve the wear resistance of the coatings.