Ten　stainless　steel　welded　H-section　column　specimens　were　tested　under　cyclic　loading　to　investigate　their　hysteretic　behaviour.　The　influences　of　axial-load　ratio　and　width-to-thickness　ratio　of　flange　and　web　on　the　failure　modes,　bearing　capacity,　energy　dissipation　capacity,　plastic　development　capacity　and　ductility　of　the　specimens　were　studied.　The　test　results　indicate　that　all　the　specimens　show　local　buckling　first　at　the　flange　and　then　at　the　web　when　subjected　to　cyclic　horizontal　load,and　the　shape　of　the　buckling　deformation　is　half　sine-wave.　With　an　increase　in　the　width-to-thickness　ratio,　the　displacement　at　failure　and　equivalent　viscous　damping　coefficient　at　failure　are　smaller,　the　ductility　coefficient　and　plasticity　development　coefficient　are　smaller,　and　the　bearing　capacity　deteriorates　faster.　The　axial-load　ratio　has　a　significant　influence　on　the　seismic　performance　of　the　specimens,　so　does　the　width-to-thickness　ratio.　For　the　seismic　design　of　stainless　steel　structures,　it　is　suggested　to　consider　the　influence　of　the　axial　pressure　when　determining　the　limiting　value　of　width-to-thickness　ratio　for　stainless　steel　H-columns.　©　2020,　Editorial　Office　of　Journal　of　Building　Structures.　All　right　reserved.