Abstract: The effect of spandrel walls on the seismic performance of self-insulating structural walls with an inner skeleton (SSWIS) was studied by low-cycle reciprocating load tests. The results showed that the hysteretic curve, skeleton curve, stiffness and its degradation, and energy dissipation capacity of the SSWIS were significantly affected by the spandrel wall. The failure process of the SSWIS was characterized by three stages:co-work, transformation transition and weak frame work, which matched the national anti-seismic goal. Both of the two specimens, W1 and W2, showed ductile failure with the ductility coefficient being 3.034 and 3.545 respectively. In addition, based on the equivalent elastic plate model, the calculation methods of cracking load of the walls were established respectively by using the maximum tensile stress theory and the unified strength theory of double shear. The rigid frame diagonal compression bar model was proposed based on shear resistance mechanism. The method for determining the width of diagonal compression bars was specified by the equivalent stiffness method. Calculation of the SSWIS ultimate load was established. Comparison with the measured values showed that the calculation method was effective. Finally, based on the established theoretical method, the direct and indirect effects of the spandrel wall on the seismic bearing capacity of SSWIS were quantitatively evaluated. This study is expected to provide a method for calculating the seismic bearing capacity of the SSWIS with doors or windows.