Abstract: In order to investigate the mechanical properties of 316L stainless steel prepared by selective laser melting (SLM), this study fabricated three types of 316L stainless steel samples through SLM, hot rolling, and solution treatment after hot rolling. The microstructure of the samples was observed, and their mechanical properties were studied and compared using tensile, three-point bending, and impact tests. The tensile and bending properties of SLM samples are good, but their impact toughness is far inferior to that of hot-rolled and solid solution states. The fracture morphology of the SLM sample after tensile and impact tests shows that the fracture surface is rough, with many pits, exhibiting brittle fracture characteristics. Both hot-rolled and solid solution states exhibit obvious ductile fracture characteristics, with relatively flat and smooth fracture facets and numerous ductile dimples at the fracture surface. The difference is that the toughness dimples at the fracture surface of the hot-rolled specimen are dense, uneven, and small in size, while the toughness dimples in the solid solution state are relatively fewer but larger in size, and have better plasticity. The results showed that 316L stainless steel prepared by SLM exhibited better tensile strength and bending strength compared to traditional methods, but its plasticity and toughness were poor.