The aim of the present work was to determine the influence of air plasma spraying (APS) parameters on the microstructure of thermal barrier coatings (TBC) consisting on NiCoCrAlY bond coat and yttria - stabilized zirconia (YSZ) top coat. The scope of the investigation involved macroscopic observation and microstructural analysis by means of light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). For the varied parameters of deposition process quantitative analysis of coatings thickness, porosity, oxide inclusions, metallic inclusions, globular inclusions and cracks were performed. The results of quantitative analysis allowed to establish which APS conditions influence the particular microstructural parameters of TBC coatings.