Almost fully dense nickel‐titanium carbide composite coatings with varied titanium carbide content were deposited on 45 carbon steel by laser cladding. High content of titanium carbide particles up to 50 wt.% with bimodal microstructure could be homogeneously distributed in the nickel based matrix. Due to the presence of the harder nickel‐titanium carbide composite coating on the 45 carbon steel, the surface hardness and wear properties were significantly improved. The Vickers hardness (HV 3) increased from about 260 HV 3 for the 45 carbon steel to 300 HV 3 – 360 HV 3 for nickel based composite coating containing 30 wt.% titanium carbide and 550 HV 3 – 680 HV 3 for nickel based composite coating containing 50 wt.% titanium carbide composite coating, respectively. The coefficient of friction and volume wear rate was reduced down to 0.41×10−6 mm3 N−1 m−1 and 9.3×10−6 mm3 N−1 ⋅ m−1 when a nickel based composite coating containing 50 wt.% titanium carbide was coated on the 45 carbon steel, respectively. The enhanced wear performance of the composite coating was due to presence of harder nickel‐titanium carbide composite coating and formation of varied soft and lubricant metal oxides consisting of mainly titanium oxides and minor iron and nickel oxides.