3-dimensional nonwoven fabrics show high loft performance owing to their dominant fiber orientation in the thickness direction. A high loft performance is a fundamental requirement for applications to cushion materials and pre-filters etc. In this study, the process was optimized to obtain 3-dimensional nonwoven fabrics with improved physical properties. The process conditions, such as the distance between the air ejection nozzles, compressed air pressure and web sustaining mesh size, were examined to develop a fiber orientation in the thickness direction of nonwoven fabrics. The mechanical properties and fiber orientation distribution function (ODF) were compared.