Abstract This article summarizes how the tensile properties of several key metal alloy systems commonly used in additive manufacturing (AM) compare against their traditionally manufactured counterparts, which process parameters can be manipulated to enable more optimized performance, the role that process-induced artifacts play in influencing tensile behavior, and how postprocessing can be employed to overcome any anomalies induced during manufacture. Popular specific grades include type 316L and 17-4PH stainless steels, AlSi10Mg, Scalmalloy, Inconel 625 and 718, H13 tool steel, Ti-6Al-4V, and cobalt-chromium.