NiP -(Cu) composite coatings were applied on a St37 steel in an acidic bath of hypophosphite composite. The effect of the concentration of the Cu particles and pH of the solutionon the amount of Ni and P of the coatings, their morphology, and hardness of the coatings were explored. Some of the coated samples were also heat treated at 400ºC for 1 hour. The phases formed, the microstructure and the amount of the alloying elements of the coatings were analyzed by X-Ray powder diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) equiped with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). Results show that although adding Cu particles reduced the hardness of NiP coating (from 482.4 to 351.2 VH in 1 gr/lit Cu), within NiP -Cu composite coatings the hardness of NiP -Cu composite coating increased from 351.2 to 380.7 VH by increasing the Cu particles from 1 to 7 gr/lit. The structure of the coating was crystalline during the heat treatment making the coating harder. With increasing the pH of the solution from 4.5 to 7 and then to 9, the weight percent of P and the particle of Cu were reduced.