Abstract: Aiming at the local buckling behavior of high strength steel equal angles, an axial compression experiment of Q420 hot-rolled steel equal angle stub columns is conducted. Based on the test results, the value of the elastic clamping coefficient of the steel angle leg is studied, and the test results are compared with the corresponding design methods and calculation formulae in Chinese, American and European steel structure design codes. The research work shows that the value of the elastic clamping coefficient of the steel angle leg in the Chinese steel structure design code is reasonable; the calculation results of the American and European steel structure design codes are close, which are both less than the test results, and the design methods are safe and reasonable.