In order to determine the soil-water partition coefficient for eleven mono- and poly-substituted phenolic compounds, for which there is still no literature data available, the possibility of using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) as a means for rapid and reliable logK(OC) estimation was examined. A series of chromatographically derived descriptors: R(M)(0), b, C(0) and PC1 (first principal component), calculated from retention data obtained under reversed-phase conditions, were used for the assessment of models as well as for a direct calibration procedure. The final calibration models are discussed with regard to the achieved accuracy and statistical quality, the type of descriptors used and the corresponding chromatographic conditions. The estimated logK(OC) values of the studied phenols were compared with those obtained by other means: (a) the present OECD guideline based on an HPLC technique; (b) the KOCWIN software package, available free of charge from the US Environmental Protection Agency web site and (c) general LSER models established by Nguyen and coworkers, and Poole and coworkers. The proposed method showed the best agreement with the results obtained by the OECD procedure, followed by the LSER models of Poole and Nguyen. Lower quality correlations were achieved with the KOCWIN calculated values, especially those predicted by molecular connectivity indices.