Abstract: Additive manufacturing aluminium alloy technology has been rapidly developed in recent years, especially the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) technology, which has achieved application verification on some components. In the LPBF technology, the formability and mechanical properties of alloys are often improved by adding trace elements, for example the rare earth erbium (Er) element. In this study, the evolvement mechanism and time response of Er element on the formability, microstructure and mechanical properties of aluminium alloys in the LPBF process. The existence and application of Er element in the Al-Si, Al-Mg and Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys by the LPBF technology, and the mechanical properties of aluminium alloys containing Er element are compared. The future development of the LPBF aluminium alloys containing Er element is put forward.