In this paper a new method of estimating the shape parameter of generalized error distribution (GED), called ‘approximated moment method’, was proposed. The following estimators were considered: the one obtained through the maximum likelihood method (MLM), approximated fast estimator (AFE), and approximated moment method (AMM). The quality of estimator was evaluated on the basis of the value of the relative mean square error. Computer simulations were conducted using random number generators for the following shape parameters: s = 0.5, s = 1.0 (Laplace distribution) s = 2.0 (Gaussian distribution) and s = 3.0.