<p>The Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) process enables the production of high-performance Inconel 718 components, but achieving optimal mechanical properties requires precise control of laser power, scanning speed, layer thickness, and hatch distance. The influence of these parameters on microstructural evolution and mechanical behaviour such as surface roughness, tensile, impact and flexural properties has received limited attention in the literature and is examined in this study. Microstructural analysis during different post-processing steps was performed using optical and scanning electron microscopy. The final microstructure consisted of columnar, melt-pool columnar boundaries, inter-dendrites with cellular dendritic sub grains and a microstructure containing Nb-rich laves phases. This was affirmed via solution heat treatment, which dissolved Laves phases, relaxed the residual stresses, and promoted partial recrystallization which resulted in equiaxed grain clusters surrounding columnar grains. Also, coherent γ strengthening precipitates and incoherent δ-phased form along grain boundaries due to heat treatment which also influences the mechanical behaviour. Mechanical tests showed the as-built Inconel 718 presented near isotropic materials tensile properties (i.e., specimens parallel and orthogonal to the build direction had the same amount of work) because of the low laser volumetric energy densities used. All the cases confirmed ductile failure upon fracture surface analysis, a reflection of the toughness of the alloy. This work also highlights the importance of post-processing with regards to the microstructural properties and mechanical properties obtained after LPBF of Inconel 718.This study provides fundamental insights to improve the performance and reliability of additively manufactured Inconel 718 used in engineering applications subjected to high stresses.</p>