In　this　study,　the　compressive　behaviour　of　rectangular　steel-reinforced　concrete-filled　stainless　steel　tubular　(SRCFSST)　short　columns　was　investigated.　Compressive　tests　on　10　rectangular　SRCFSST　stub　columns　and　2　rectangular　concrete-filled　stainless　steel　tubular　(CFSST)　counterparts　were　performed　to　study　the　effect　of　steel　ratios　and　steel　sectional　shape　on　the　compressive　performance　of　SRCFSST　short　columns.　Compression　test　results　showed　that　the　rectangular　SRCFSST　column　has　higher　carrying　capacity,　deformability,　and　ductility　than　the　rectangular　CFSST　column.　A　refined　finite　element　(FE)　model　of　the　rectangular　SRCFSST　stub　column　was　created.　According　to　the　FE　study,　adding　carbon　profiled　steel　to　rectangular　CFSST　significantly　improved　confinement　of　concrete.　Thus,　ductility　and　bearing　capacity　of　the　composite　column　were　greatly　improved.　The　carrying　capacity,　peak　strain,　and　compressive　stiffness　of　the　rectangular　SRCFSST　short　column　were　evaluated　using　FE　parametric　analysis.　Finally,　design　methods　of　the　carrying　capacity,　peak　strain,　and　compressive　stiffness　of　the　SRCFSST　short　column　were　recommended　or　refined.　©　2023　Elsevier　Ltd