Ni625/WC composite coatings added with different amounts of Y ₂O ₃were prepared on the surface of 304 stainless steels by laser cladding. This study focused on the microstructure characteristics, microhardness, and corrosion performances of Ni625/WC composite coatings. The results showed that Y ₂O ₃ can effectively improve the corrosion resistance of the composite coatings. The microstructure from the bottom to the surface of composite coatings consists of plane crystal, cellular crystal, columnar crystal and equiaxed crystal. The Y ₂O ₃content of optimum composite coating was 1.0%. Its microhardness was three times that of matrix material. In addition, the corrosion current density of the composite coating was only 2% of Ni625/WC coating, which was attributed to the good properties of Y ₂O ₃ and appropriate Y ₂O ₃ refined microstructure.