We investigated the properties of functionally graded WC-based cemented carbide, prepared with a new approach featured by sintering the WC-Co/WC-Fe-Ni double-layer compacts together. For this approach, the reasonable pressing pressure to prepare the alloys should be about 15 MPa, under which the two layers have consistent sintering shrinkages and the unexpected phenomena (e.g. layering and cracking) were not observed. The phase composition and microstructure analysis based on the X-ray diffraction, optical and scanning electron microscopy experiments indicate that the η or graphite phase is not existed in both WC-Co and WC-Fe-Ni layers, and that the interface of these two layers are well combined together. Meanwhile, a significant gradient of Fe, Ni and Co is observed at the interface between the above two layers, and this composition gradient results in a noticeable hardness gradient, which further leads to the WC-Co/WC-Fe-Ni double-layer cemented carbide being of high hardness, wear resistance and toughness.