In the presented investigation magnetron sputtered chromium aluminum nitride (Cr 1-x Al x )N coatings are examined on their tribological characteristics with regard to the aluminum content. Three (Cr 1-x Al x )N coatings with different aluminum contents (x = 0; 0.23; 1) are compared in dry running conditions. The tests were performed in a ball-on-disc (BoD) tribometer. The ceramics Al 2 O 3 and Si 3 N 4 were used as counterpart materials. The analysis of tribological contact partners included the determination of friction coefficients, wear rates and wear debris. Laser profilometry, light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used for examination of the wear tracks. The chemical analyses of wear debris of the coated samples were carried out by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In general Al 2 O 3 used as counterpart material leads to lower friction coefficients than Si 3 N 4 balls. The counterpart wear for Al 2 O 3 was less than for Si 3 N 4 . On the contrary, the highest wear rates of coated samples were measured for tribological contacts with Al 2 O 3 . With regard to the coatings, Cr 0.77 Al 0.23 N showed the lowest wear rates in all cases, though the friction coefficient Cr 0.77 Al 0.23 N of against Si 3 N 4 was the highest.