The effect of nitrogen gas pressure in arc ion plating on surface properties of the TiN-coated high speed steel(SKH51) is presented in this paper. The surface roughness, micro-particle, micro-hardness, coated thickness, atomic distribution of TiN, and adhesion strength are measured fur various nitrogen gas pressures. It has been shown that the nitrogen gas pressure has a considerable effect on the surface roughness, adhesion strength, atomic distribution of TiN, and surface deposition of TiN of the high speed steels but that it has little influence on the micro-hardness and coated thickness.