This　paper　presents　an　experimental　investigation　on　a　wide　range　of　aluminium　alloy　stub,　intermediate　and　slender　columns　containing　multiple　circular　openings.　Three　series　of　compression　tests　including　six　different　cross-section　dimensions　of　columns　with　different　lengths　were　conducted　by　applying　uniform　axial　load　to　the　pin-ended　specimens,　which　were　fabricated　by　extrusion　of　square　and　rectangular　hollow　sections　(SHS　and　RHS)　using　6061-T6　and　6063-T5　heat-treated　aluminium　alloys.　In　test　series　I,　the　specimens　were　fabricated　by　welding　aluminium　alloy　plates　at　both　ends　of　the　columns　for　pin-ended　compression　tests.　In　test　series　II,　the　specimens　were　further　reinforced　by　carbon　fiber-reinforced　polymer　(CFRP)　at　the　heat-affected　zone　resulted　from　the　welding.　In　test　series　III,　the　special　aluminium　alloy　sleeves　were　designed　instead　of　welding　at　both　ends　of　the　columns　to　preclude　the　form　of　the　heat-affected　zone.　The　column　strengths,　failure　modes,　load　versus　axial　shortening　curves,　and　strain　distributions　along　the　circular　openings　of　test　specimens　were　all　obtained　from　the　experimental　investigation.　In　addition,　the　test　strengths　of　aluminium　alloy　SHS　and　RHS　columns　with　or　without　openings　were　compared　with　the　design　strengths　calculated　using　the　design　rules　given　in　the　current　design　guidelines.　It　is　shown　from　the　comparison　that　the　first　design　method　proposed　by　Zhu　and　Young　for　aluminium　alloy　SHS　and　RHS　welded　columns　is　comparatively　appropriate　for　the　design　of　aluminium　alloy　SHSs　and　RHSs　under　axial　compression.　Whereas,　the　current　design　rules　for　cold-formed　steel　structural　members　with　openings　may　be　inapplicable　to　the　design　of　perforated　aluminium　alloy　SHSs　and　RHSs　under　axial　compression.　©　2018　Elsevier　Ltd