A　stepping　scheme　is　developed　in　the　present　paper　to　predict　the　effective　properties　of　composites　with　high　inclusion　volume　fraction　and/or　several　kinds　of　inclusions.　In　this　method　the　inclusions　are　treated　step　by　step　and　the　effective　stiffness　coefficients　are　calculated　for　the　resulting　composite　in　each　step.　The　numerical　results　of　the　effective　properties　of　multi-inclusion　composites　indicate　that　materials　with　a　high　volume　fraction　of　inclusions　or　multiple　inclusions　can　be　dealt　with　precisely　by　the　stepping　scheme.　For　the　case　of　a　binary　composite　consisting　of　a　matrix　and　one　kind　of　inclusion,　the　present　results　agree　with　those　from　a　differential　scheme.　(c)　2007　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.