The paper describes the oxidation of E110 alloy with Cr coatings in air atmosphere at 1100 °C for 20 min. The coatings were deposited using magnetron sputtering systems of the classical construction (with cooled targets in a dual configuration) and with a single hot target. The influence of magnetron type on energetic characteristics of the deposition and coating growth was described. The as-deposited and oxidized samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy. The oxidation resistance of the Cr-coated alloy is strongly affected by microstructure and thickness of the deposited films. The Cr coatings obtained by hot target sputtering had a columnar microstructure, the mass gain of these samples was decreased from 9.18 to 3.22 mg/cm2 with coating thickness from 1.8 to 4.5 μm. The minimal mass gain (2.86 mg/cm2) and the best protective properties were belong to the Cr coating with a dense microstructure and thickness of 3.1 μm that was deposited by dual magnetron sputtering. The adhesion behavior of Cr-coated Zr alloy strongly depends on oxidation states of Cr coating and Zr substrate as well as interface reactions.