V1-xAlxN(0≤x≤0.67)coatings were prepared by reactive magnetron co-sputtering. The effect of Al content on the phase, microstructure, mechanical properties and tribological behavior was studied. The result show that while a columnar structure is maitained in the V1-xAlxN(0≤x≤0.51)coatings, they are progressively densified with AlN addition. Simultaneously, the hardness is nearly quadrupled for the V0.49Al0.51N coating showing a very dense, non-columnar microstructure as compared with VN; Hard(>30GPa)coatings can be found over a moderate range of composition and the microstructures, and the highest value is 41 GPa; Concomitant with the hardness improvement, the V1-xAlxNcoatings exhibites superior wear resistance to that of the VN coating.