Abstract Laser cladding of the Al + TiC alloy powder on Ti–6Al–4V alloy can form the Ti3Al/TiAl + TiC ceramic layer. In this study, TiC particle-dispersed Ti3Al/TiAl matrix ceramic layer on the Ti–6Al–4V alloy by laser cladding has been researched by means of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, electron probe micro-analyzer, energy dispersive spectrometer. The main difference from the earlier reports is that Ti3Al/TiAl has been chosen as the matrix of the composite coating. The wear resistance of the Al + 30 wt.% TiC and the Al + 40 wt.% TiC cladding layer was approximately 2 times greater than that of the Ti–6Al–4V substrate due to the reinforcement of the Ti3Al/TiAl + TiC hard phases. However, when the TiC mass percent was above 40 wt.%, the thermal stress value was greater than the materials yield strength limit in the ceramic layer, the microcrack was present and its wear resistance decreased.