[DataContract] public class GroupDto { [DataMember] public int id { get; set; } [DataMember] public string name{ get; set; } [DataMember] public List<UserDTO> Users { get; set; } } 2- Create your mappings : Mapper.CreateMap<User, UserDto>(); Mapper.CreateMap<UserDto, User>(); // Only if you convert back from dto to entity Mapper.CreateMap<Group, GroupDto>(); Mapper.CreateMap<GroupDto, Group>(); // Only if you convert back from dto to entity 3- that's all, because auto mapper will automatically map the List<User> to List<UserDto> (since they have same name, and there is already a mapping from user to UserDto) 4- When you want to map you call : Mapper.Map<GroupDto>(groupEntity); Hope that helps.