In　order　to　study　the　overall　buckling　behavior　of　the　austenitic　EN　1.4301　stainless　steel　I-section　columns　under　axial　compression,　11　full-scale　specimens,　among　which　five　were　considered　in　strong-axis　buckling　mode　and　six　were　considered　in　weak-axis　buckling　mode,　were　tested.　According　to　the　initial　geomeric　curvature　measured　before　the　test　and　the　initial　load　eccentricity　measured　during　the　test,　the　failure　mode　and　the　overall　buckling　capacity　of　all　column　specimens　were　analyzed.　By　comparing　the　calculated　results　with　those　based　on　current　European　steel　structure　design　code　(EN　1993-1-4)　and　Chinese　steel　structure　design　code　(GB　50017-2003),　it　is　shown　that　the　design　according　to　EN　1993-1-4　is　generally　more　conservative,　while　the　design　according　to　GB　50017-2003　could　be　unsafe.　©,　2015,　Editorial　Office　of　China　Civil　Engineering　Journal.　All　right　reserved.