The need for improved 3D localization algorithms in wireless sensor networks arises from challenges like high complexity, low positioning accuracy, and excessive energy consumption. Traditional methods, such as DV-Hop, are cost-effective but face criticism for poor accuracy and high power usage. This study introduces C3D-DV-Hop, an enhanced 3D localization algorithm leveraging nearby anchor node information and the cuckoo search technique. By optimizing hop size and unknown node position estimates, the proposed method reduces energy consumption and accelerates node communication. An adaptive step search strategy improves convergence speed, further enhancing localization accuracy. Experimental results confirm significant reductions in localization errors and improved overall efficiency.