The application of additive manufactured (AM) parts is rapidly emerging in a various spectrum of industries due to medium complexity, material savings, and customization. In this study, cold metal transfer (CMT)-based wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) process was used to fabricate 316L structures at various heat inputs with the aid of process parameters. The various process parameters included travel speed (TS), weld current (WC) and wire feed speed (WFS) was used on the deposition process, the microstructure characteristics and mechanical properties are evaluated. Process parameters play an important role and mainly affect the deposition morphology. Microstructure comprises a highly oriented columnar grains and equiaxed grains. XRD studies exhibits a austenite peaks of (111), (200), and (220) planes and confirms single austenite peaks were found at the same position with larger amount. Micro-hardness studies revealed the increase of WFS which leads to increase in the hardness values from 214 ± 3 HV to 228 ± 3 HV. Tensile properties exhibit the horizontal direction sample which possesses a higher tensile values UTS: 490 ± 5 MPa, YS: 305 ± 5 MPa & EL: 42 ± 3: while compared to vertical direction samples UTS: 428 ± 5 MPa, YS: 301 ± 5 & EL: 40 ± 3, which confirms the anisotropy properties in ductility. Fracture morphology shows appearance of micro-voids and dimples and indicates ductile mode fracture.