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The aim of this study was to evaluate precision and accuracy in estimating horizontal projection crown area of trees of Araucaria Angustifolia in different social positions. We sampled 294 trees in the forest and classified them according to their position in sociological position as dominant, codominant and dominated. In each tree it was measured the diameter at breast height, total height and eight crown radius following the cardinal points direction. The horizontal projection area of the crown was calculated by the average of the respective radius numbers evaluated in the crown (methods): eight, four and two. Statistical differences between among methods were verified by variance analysis with factorial arrangement, considering two factors, methods of crown area and the social position occupied by trees. The results indicated that although there was no significant difference between the mean area of crown projection when measured eight and four radius, the graphical analysis revealed tendency to overestimate the area calculated with four and two radius in irregular crown, often identified in codominant and dominated trees. Furthermore, in relation to symmetrical crowns, determining the area of horizontal projection crown with four radius can be used without loss of accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]