The popularity of hot sheet metal forming processes in the recent years has necessitated research efforts to improve tool life and control the friction level during hot forming operations. In this work, the tribological properties of tool steel and UHSS pairs at elevated temperatures have been studied by using a special hot sheet metal forming test rig that closely simulates the conditions prevalent in the real process. This test involves linear unidirectional sliding of a preheated UHSS sheet between two tool steel specimens where new workpiece material is continuously in contact with the tool surface. The study is aimed at investigating different surface treatments/coatings applied on either the tool or sheet surface or on both. The results have shown that it is possible to control the coefficients of friction through surface treatments and coatings of the tool and workpiece materials. The application of a coating on to the sheet material has a greater influence on the friction compared to changing the tool steel surface. After running-in, the investigated tool steel variants show almost similar frictional behaviour when sliding against the same sheet material. Even though coating the UHSS sheet reduces friction it abrades the tool surface and also results in transfer of the sheet coating material to the tool surface.