Abstract An electrode is one of the components in the electric discharge machine (EDM), that requires excellent electrical conductivity and strength. This component is typically made of Cu-based alloys which can be synthesized by powder metallurgy (PM). Their strength can be enhanced by the addition of alloy elements and the improvement of specific parameters. In this study, the characteristics of Cu-Ni-xFe alloys including the microstructure evolution, compressive strength, hardness, and electrical properties were investigated with different Fe contents and the compaction temperature. The results show that the addition of Fe tended to increase the hardness and compressive yield strength of the model alloys linearly. The maximum compressive yield strength of 227.16 MPa was obtained for Cu-Ni-3.0 wt.%Fe alloy with 150oC compaction temperature. The electrical conductivity of all model alloys exceeded 75% IACS, in which alloys with compaction temperatures ranging from 150 to 250oC showed a higher conductivity. The microstructure of Cu-Ni-xFe alloys was observed to have Cu-Ni solid solution and intermetallic phases, which increased the hardness of the alloys. In conclusion, the addition of Fe element and compaction temperature affect the microstructure, mechanical, and electrical properties of Cu-Ni-xFe alloys.