The measurement of individual tubes of their intrinsic mechanical and transport properties position them as the ultimate carbon fibres. The tables that follow (table 1 and 2) compare these properties to other engineering materials. The best carbon nanotubes show a unique combination of stiffness, strength, and tenacity compared to other fibre materials which usually lack one of these properties. Thermal and electrical conductivity are also very high and comparable to other conductive materials.
Table 1. Mechanical properties of engineering fibres
| Material | Specific Density | E (TPa) | Strength (GPa) | Strain at Break (%) |
| Carbon Nanotubes | 1.3 - 2.0 | 1.00 | 10 - 60 | 10 |
| HS Steel | 7.8 | 0.20 | 4.1 | < 10 |
| Carbon Fibre - PAN | 1.7 - 2.0 | 0.20 - 0.60 | 1.7 - 5.0 | 0.30 - 2.40 |
| Carbon Fibre - PITCH | 2.0 - 2.2 | 0.40 - 0.96 | 2.2 - 3.3 | 0.27 - 0.60 |
| E/S-Glass | 2.5 | 0.07/0.08 | 2.4/4.5 | 4.8 |
| Kevlar 49 | 1.4 | 0.13 | 3.6 - 4.1 | 2.8 |
Table 2. Transport properties of conductive materials
| Material | Thermal Conductivity (W/m.k) | Electrical Conductivity (S/m) |
| Carbon Nanotubes | > 3000 | 10^6 - 10^7 |
| Copper | 400 | 6.0 x 10^7 |
| Carbon Fibre - PAN | 1000 | 2.0 - 8.5 x 10^6 |
| Carbon Fibre - PITCH | 8 - 105 | 6.5 - 14.0 x 10^6 |
