Abstract Compatible estimates of basal area and basal area growth have the growth estimate equal to the difference in successive basal area estimates. The compatible growth estimator associated with the usual basal area estimator has a high variance; a noncompatible growth estimator with less variance is usually preferred. A new compatible estimator is proposed for use with trees selected by the usual Bitterlich sampling procedure. This estimator, which requires some additional measurements, results in an increased variance for basal area estimation and a greatly reduced variance for growth estimation compared to the usual compatible estimation procedure; the latter variance approaches that of the noncompatible growth estimator. A purely random distribution of trees is assumed and deterministic formulas are used to calculate variances. Extensions to volume estimation are discussed. Forest Sci. 27:191-203.