The current study is aimed at studying the effect of reinforcing fiber length, fiber content (wt.%), surface modification and nanoclay dispersion on the tribological properties of jute fiber-reinforced epoxy composites (JFRECs). The epoxy matrix composites were developed by compression moulding technique for both untreated and NaOH treated, randomly oriented short jute fibers in the presence and absence of Cloisite 20A nanoclay. Furthermore, the fiber length (10–40 mm), the weight fraction of fiber (0–25%), NaOH molar concentration for surface modification (5 and 10%) and nanoclay dispersion (1–7 wt.%) were varied to obtain the optimum mechanical properties. From the obtained data, it was noted that mercerized (5% of NaOH) JFRECs along with 5 wt% of nanoclay showed superior mechanical behaviour as a result of augmented interfacial bonding amid the fiber and matrix. However, the properties got reduced for 7 wt.% of nanoclay dispersed composites due to its wide agglomeration. Furthermore, better tribological properties were noted for the epoxy composites reinforced with alkali (5% molar concentration of NaOH) treated jute fibers having 20 mm length and weight fraction of 20% along with 5 wt.% of nanoclay loading