Carbon materials, like carbon fiber, carbon nanotubes and graphene, were widely used as promising reinforcements tostrengthen aluminum matrix composites (AMCs). The dispersion of reinforcement in matrix and interface wettability betweenmatrix and reinforcing phase have been key factors affecting AMCs properties. In this study, electroless copper-coatedcarbon fibers reinforced aluminum (Cu-Cf/Al) composites were prepared by spark plasma sintering processing followedby heat treatment. Microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated. Microstructure observation indicated thatfibers distributed uniformly in the composites containing up to 9 wt% copper-coated carbon fibers (Cu-Cf). In addition, aninterfacial layer of 50 nm thickness was formed between the fiber and Al matrix due to mutual diffusion of Cu and Al atoms. Vickers hardness, tensile strength and bending strength of 9 wt% Cu-Cf/Al composite increased from 40 to 93 HV, 59 to190 MPa and 110 to 326 MPa, respectively, compared to Al matrix. The improved mechanical properties are ascribed to thesynergistic effect of dispersion, precipitation and solution strengthening. However, the elongation of composite decreased ascompared to that of Al matrix. Moreover, Cu-Cf/Al composite exhibits superior corrosion resistance over uncoated carbonfiber/Al composite but less than Al matrix.