Electroless nickel is a relatively strong material. The ductility is due to the microcrystalline and/or amorphous structure that more or less precludes any possible plastic deformation prior to fracture. High phosphorus coatings have the optimal level of ductility -1 to 1.5% elongation. This is considerably less than sulfamate nickel but is adequate for most applications that require bending, swaging, or forming after plating.

The ultimate tensile strength exceeds 700 MPa and allows electroless nickel to undergo considerable abuse without damage. Most reports indicates a reduction in strength with a reduction of phosphorus in the deposit. This is illustrated in the graph below: