The　present　investigation　studies　the　load　bearing　performance　of　stainless　steel　bolted　connections.　The　austenitic　stainless　steel　developed　in　China　containing　approximately　17%　of　Cr,　which　could　be　graded　as　EN　1.4401,　has　been　selected　for　this　research.　In　order　to　study　the　bearing　strength　of　stainless　steel　bolted　connections,　experimental　tests　on　5　specimens　have　been　conducted.　In　addition,　complementary　finite　element　(FE)　models,　which　have　been　validated　by　the　test　results,　have　been　adopted　to　analyse　the　effect　of　the　key　factors　for　bearing　strength　of　the　stainless　steel　bolted　connections.　The　key　factors　include　end　distance,　thickness　of　connecting　plate,　diameter　of　stainless　steel　bolt　and　edge　distance.　According　to　the　FEA　results,　the　loading　capacity　increases　with　the　increase　of　the　thickness　of　the　plate　and　the　diameter　of　the　bolt　approximate　linearly.　However,　the　end　distance　and　edge　distance　have　a　comparatively　complicated　influence　on　the　loading　capacity　of　the　connection.　Based　on　mathematical　analysis　of　the　experimental　and　FEA　results,　a　calculation　method　as　well　as　its　simplified　form　for　the　bearing　strength　of　stainless　steel　bolted　connections　has　been　proposed.