The effects of prebuckling on the buckling of laminated composite cylindrical shells are investigated. Both axial compression and lateral pressure are considered for laminated composite cylindrical shells with length to radius ratios usually associated with container vessels. The shell walls are made of a laminate with several symmetric ply orientations. The study was made using finite difference energy method, utilizing the nonlinear bifurcation branch with nonlinear prebuckling displacements. The results are compared to the buckling loads determined when prebuckling displacements are neglected.