In order to improve strength and elastic recovery of traditional meltblown nonwovens, a new type of elastic meltblown nonwovens was prepared from thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). The thermal properties and rheological properties of TPU were studied, and the effects of preparation process parameters on the morphology, mechanical properties, air permeability and contact angle of TPU meltblown nonwovens were analyzed. The results show that the TPU raw material with a number average molecular weight of 33 767 g/mol, a molecular weight distribution index of 2.19 and a melting point of 159.4 ℃ has good rheological properties at 230 ℃ which is suitable for melt-blown spinning. When the average fiber diameter is 10.27 μm and the average fiber web pore size is 145 μm, the longitudinal and transverse rupture strengths of the prepared TPU meltblown nonwovens are 52 and 49 N/(5 cm), the longitudinal and transverse elongation at break are 424% and 459%, respectively. With the same web parameters, the 50% elongation recovery rate is 97%, the air permeability is 580 L/(m2·s), and the water contact angle is 110.3°, showing obvious water-repellent properties. © 2022 China Textile Engineering Society. All rights reserved.