The contribution focuses to study of selected properties of thin coatings deposited on tool steel. Used samples were prepared by PVD method. Samples were evaluated using the scanning electron microscopy. Characteristics of surface morphology Ra, Rz Rt, RSm and RPc were established according to standard STN EN ISO 4287. The coatings TiN, TiCN, Supral and Exxtral Plus have been deposited on tool steel substrate having a thickness of 16 mm. The morphology characteristics were compared to the surface morphology of the reference material tool steel X155CrVMo12.1.