A　novel　prefabricated　cruciform-section　thin-concrete-encased　steel　(PCS-TCES)　column　is　proposed.　Tests　were　conducted　on　seven　PCS-TCES　short　columns　under　axial　compression,　changing　steel　section　area　ratios,　concrete　cover　thickness　outside　the　flange,　stirrup　spacing　and　stirrup　forms.　According　to　the　results,　PCS-TCES　short　columns　exhibit　excellent　axial　compressive　strength　and　crack　resistance.　The　stirrup　form　with　welded　ends　can　further　improve　the　crack　resistance　of　the　columns.　The　local　buckling　of　steel　sections　under　axial　compression　can　be　prevented　by　the　thin　concrete　encasement　of　PCS-TCES　columns.　With　the　45　mm　concrete　covers　outside　the　flanges　that　is　much　thinner　than　the　requirement　in　the　Chinese　code,　the　crack　resistance　and　the　deformability　of　the　specimen　are　still　enhanced.　The　proportion　of　steel　section　area　in　PCS-TCES　short　columns　from　7.4%　to　10.8%,　although　with　thin　concrete　covers,　can　still　fully　utilize　the　strength　of　the　steel　and　develop　considerable　residual　resistance　with　satisfactory　post-peak　deformability.　Formulas　were　proposed　and　verified　to　calculate　the　maximum　axial　compression　resistance　of　PCS-TCES　short　columns,　and　a　modification　for　the　elastic　stiffness　formula　in　the　Chinese　code　was　provided.