The buckling characteristics of I - shaped columns which are composed of thin web and equal upper/lower flange plates are generally classified into the local and global modes. In this paper, its local buckling problem has been formulated on the basis of the assumed buckling modes using the finite element method for beams and plates. The effects of local bucklings are studied for various size rations and end conditions of I-shaped columns. The calculated results are comparatively well consistent with values obtained from the existing studies. The global buckling characteristics calculated by the present method are in good agreement with the classical rigid web solution