In order to improve the wear resistance of 45 steel, in this study, WC/Ni60 composite coatings with different CeO 2 additions (0, 1, 2, and 3 wt%) were prepared on 45 steel by the laser cladding technique; the experimental analysis was carried out by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), a Vickers hardness tester, and a friction and wear tester. The results show that CeO 2 had little effect on the phase composition of the coatings; however, with the increase in CeO 2 content, the CeO 2 played a key role in refining the grains of the coating, thus reducing the generation of cracks. In addition, CeO 2 could effectively strengthen the internal structure of the coating and improve its microhardness and wear resistance. Particularly noteworthy is the observed reduction in both the friction coefficient and mass loss of the coating when the CeO 2 addition reached 2%. This suggests an enhancement in the tribological performance of the coating at this concentration.