No analytical solution exists for estimating the efficiency of symmetric polygonal fins (SPFs) circumscribing circular tubes. Performance of such fins is conventionally determined from either of the two approximate techniques, namely, the equivalent annulus method and the sector method. The present work aims to judge the relative merits and applicability of these two methods critically. To this end, the results obtained from the approximate techniques have compared with those obtained from a semi-analytical technique. It has been noted that, with the increase of the tip heat loss, the accuracy of prediction from any of the approximate methods decreases. For the sector method, a modification has been suggested. The prediction from the modified version of the sector method is always more accurate than that from the equivalent annulus method. It has been further illustrated that though the approximate techniques can be employed for the prediction of efficiency,they cannot be used to predict the tip temperatures accurately.