The luminescent properties of the series of erbium(III) complexes of various coordination types with different tetrapyrrole macrocycles (porphyrins, phthalocyanines and corroles) are discussed in this paper. The investigated series of compounds include mononuclear porphyrinato complexes (metal-ligand ratio 1:1, tppEr(acac)), sandwich phthalocyaninato-porphyrinato type complexes (metal-ligand ratio 1:2 [(15C5) 4 Pc]Er[(4-BrC 6 H 4) 4 Por] or 2:3-(Pc) Er[(15C5) 4 Pc]Er(Pc) and [(15C5) 4 Pc]Er[(15C5) 4 Pc]Er(Pc)), ditopic porphyrins and corroles possessing peripheral lanthanides binding (metal-ligand ratio 1:1, Er-edta-H 2 atpp•2H 2 O, Er-Hdtpa-H 2 atpp, Er-edta-H 3 dpfc•2H 2 O and Er-Hdtpa-H 3 dpfc). 4f-Luminescence in the near-infrared region is observed in all studied Er-complexes as a result of intramolecular transfer of excitation energy. The unique features of each type of complexes are discussed in details. The peripheral complexes are dual-emissive: they display both erbium(III) 4f-emission in near-infrared and molecular fluorescence in the visible spectral region. The values of quantum yield of molecular fluorescence as well as the intensity of 4f-luminescence are estimated. It was found that the binding type of erbium(III) plays a key role in the macrocycle excited state relaxation. The doubledecker heteroleptic complex [(15C5) 4 Pc]Er[(4-BrPh) 4 Por] possesses unusual emission behaviour.