Abstract: The local buckling and distortional buckling stress of sixteen pin-ended cold-formed steel column specimens were calculated by a finite strip method and a hand method, respectively. The results of the finite strip and hand methods were compared with each other, and the hand method of elastic buckling critical stress was validated. The elastic buckling behavior of channels with complex edge stiffeners and intermediate V type stiffeners under axial load was studied. It is found that the existence of intermediate V type stiffeners has an obvious effect on the elastic local buckling stress of axially loaded members, but has little effect on the elastic distortional buckling stress. The elastic distortional buckling stress could be increased evidently by decreasing the ratio of flange width to thickness.