Indentation techniques offer a width spread possib ilities to measure mechanical properties in small volumes ranged from 0.001 μm 3 , to volumes of several mm 3 , useful in both bulk and in composite materials. This paper discus some of the fundamenta ls of the indentation theory and shows some importa nt draw falls when indentation techniques are utilized to evaluate mechanical properties of ceramic mater ials. Among the properties are hardness, fracture toughne ss, elastic modulus and film adherence to substrate . To achieve it, bulk ceramic materials as Al 2O3, Barium Titanate BaTiO 3 and TiN films deposited onto M2 tool steel were used as a case study.