The two-dimensional nonlinear transient heat transfer analysis of variable cross section pin-fins is studied using the incremental differential quadrature method (IDQM) as a simple, accurate, and computationally efficient numerical tool. The formulations are general so that it can easily be used for arbitrary continuously varying cross section pin fins with the spatial-temperature dependent thermal parameters. On all external surfaces of the pin fin, the convective-radiative condition is considered. The effects of two different types of boundary conditions at the base of pin fin are investigated: time and spatial dependent temperature, and the convection heat transfer. The thermal conductivity of the pin fin is assumed to vary as a linear function of the temperature. The accuracy of the method is demonstrated by comparing its results with those generated by finite difference method. It is shown that using few grid points, results in excellent agreements with those of FDM are obtained. Less computational efforts of the method with respect to finite difference method is shown. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.