Two colorimetric methods for the estimation of isoniazid are developed. The first method depends on coupling of isoniazid with diazotized 1-amino anthraquinone zinc chloride salt (fast red AL salt) to form a red colour (lambda(max) 510 nm). The second one is based on the formation of a green complex (lambda(max) 655 nm) between the acid hydrazide and 2,6-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone (DMBQ). All measurements of the two procedures were carried out in the presence of sodium hydroxide at room temperature (20 +/- 3 degrees C). The two methods are applied for the determination of isoniazid in presence of congenial drugs, vitamins and additives normally encountered with it in pharmaceutical dosage forms. The reliability of these methods was established by parallel determination with the reported and official methods.