Actual friction conditions are normally rather difficult to determine in metal forming operations. However, they have large influence on tool stresses and it is therefore of great importance to be able to estimate them. Based upon a general theoretical model for friction at high normal pressures, this paper shows how the calculation of friction stress and axial and radial pressure along the container wall in a forward rod extrusion can be carried out. The calculation is iterative. Initially assuming an arbitrary friction stress distribution, the axial and radial normal pressure distributions are calculated and they are the basis of estimating a new friction stress distribution. The iteration is quickly converging. Experimentally the local surface stresses were estimated using Al-specimens produced with model asperities measuring the flattening of the asperities after extrusion. The theory and experiments are in good accordance.