Abstract The microstructure, mechanical and magnetic properties of Zr–x (8, 9, 10, wt.%)Nb–4Sn alloys were investigated to obtain novel Zr-based alloy with low Young’s modulus and magnetic susceptibility for biomedical implants. After homogenization annealing, hot forging and solution annealing, Zr–8Nb–4Sn, Zr–9Nb–4Sn and Zr–10Nb–4Sn alloys were composed of β+α″ phase, β+α″ phase, β+ω phase, respectively. The temperature at which the α and ω phase were transformed into β phase during the heating process was about 200 °C, and the phase transformation temperature decreased with the increase of Nb element. Among all the Zr–x (x = 8,9,10)Nb–4Sn(wt.%) alloys, Zr–9Nb–4Sn alloy had the lowest Young's modulus of 46.6 GPa and the low magnetic susceptibility of 1.294 × 10−6 cm3g−1, which has a good application prospect for biomedical applications.