Ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC) actuators are a class of electroactive polymer composites that exhibit some interesting electromechanical characteristics such as low voltage actuation, large displacements, and benefit from low density and elastic modulus. Elastic modulus and surface resistance are basic properties of IPMCs that play a role in almost all practical applications of these materials. The prediction of the elastic modulus and surface resistance is of extreme importance to better grasp the mechanical behavior of IPMCs and to evaluate the success of the design. This paper has proposed a theoretical framework for predicting the elastic modulus and surface resistance of copper electrodes IPMCs. A five layers analytical assemblage model is introduced for the IPMCs relied upon improved classical lamination theory. The depositional metallic atoms were used as the exterior layer, the ionic polymer was used as the middle layer, and the material between the two layers was a gradient layer. Based on Mori–Tanaka methodology and gradient mechanics, the overall elastic properties of composites are obtained and lie between those obtained from the experiment. The prediction showed a good agreement with the experimental elastic modulus values with a maximum deviation of less than 10%. The overall results have provided useful insight into the elastic modulus and surface resistance effects to the properties of the IPMC. This would open further opportunities toward the higher application of IPMC. © 2020, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.