Abstract: The mechanism and deformation behavior of local buckling in the thin cold-rolled strip were studied by using analytical method. The uneven distribution of load in local shape wave was described by using Gaussian function, and the effect of the flat part on the regional of buckling was considered by local buckling factor. Based on the lowest energy principle, the critical stress was achieved, and then the influence laws of the local buckling factor and the width of the regional of buckling to the critical stress were obtained. The path of the post-buckling was given by using perturbation method. The pre-buckling analytical method was verified by an analysis of the field cases, where the mode of post-buckling was in good accordance with the field local shape wave. The mode of local buckling was obtained by designing cold-rolling experiments in test mill, which further proved the correctness of the analytical model.