Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described for phase error estimation and correction with sub-symbol resolution. A transmitting device may precode symbols (e.g., phase tracking reference signal (PT-RS) symbols) using a discrete Fourier transform (DFT). The transmitting device may map the DFT-precoded symbols to sets of adjacent subcarriers of a wireless signal, and may map other symbols to other subcarriers of the wireless signal. A receiving device may receive the wireless signal and may compare time domain representations of the DFT-precoded symbols with time domain representations of known reference symbols. The receiving device may estimate a phase error with sub-symbol resolution in the time domain based at least in part on the comparison, and may apply a phase correction in either the time or frequency domain to the other symbols.