<p>Determining mechanical properties from nanoindentation data using the conventional Oliver–Pharr method requires knowledge of the so-called area function, which should be pre-calibrated with a reference material. Such a pre-calibration procedure is rather complex, and concerns about its reliability still exist. To avoid this limitation, a straightforward approach to mechanical property determination using nanoindentation tests was proposed in the present study, based on a self-consistent description of the load-displacement curve. With this new approach, Young’s modulus and hardness can be extracted directly by analysing the measured load-displacement curve without the need for pre-calibration of the area function. The efficiency and reliability of this new method were well verified by analysing experimental data obtained from glass, metal, and ceramic samples.</p>