The influence of Cu and Mn substitution on the structure and magnetic properties of melt-spun Pr 8Fe 87− x B 5M x ribbons with 0 ≤ x ≤ 1.2 was studied. The experimental results show that the Cu substitution of appropriate quantity leads to the c-axis alignment of Pr 2Fe 14B phase in melt-spun ribbons. The substitution of Mn improves magnetic properties of melt-spun Pr 8Fe 87− x B 5Mn x ribbons, but does not show the same influences on the alignment of Pr 2Fe 14B phase as Cu substitution does. A remanence of 1.33 T, a coercive field of 462 kA/m and a maximum energy product of 185 kJ/m 3 in Pr 8Fe 86.4B 5Mn 0.6 ribbons are obtained at room temperature.