Ni60WC coatings were prepared on 45 steel by laser cladding with different scanning speeds, and the effects of laser scanning speed on the microstructure, phases and hardness were analyzed using a super-depth field microscopy, x-ray diffraction and microhardness tester. The tribological performance of Ni60WC coatings fabricated at the different scanning speeds was analyzed using a ball-on-disc wear tester, and the wear mechanism was discussed. The results show that the hardness of Ni60WC coating fabricated at the laser scanning speeds of 50, 60 and 70 mm/s is 1475.0 ± 129, 1564.9 ± 117 and 1527.2 ± 140 HV0.5, respectively, showing the coating hardness fabricated at the laser scanning speed of 60 mm/s is the highest. The average coefficients of friction of Ni60WC coatings fabricated at the laser scanning speeds of 50, 60 and 70 mm/s are 0.297, 0.344 and 0.440, respectively, and the corresponding wear rates are 949.2, 854.6 and 881.4 μm3s−1N−1, respectively, showing that the wear resistance of Ni60WC coating fabricated at the laser scanning speed of 60 mm/s is the best. The wear mechanism of Ni60WC coating is combined of abrasive wear and adhesive wear, which is attributed to the WC particle with the high hardness.