An optimization procedure is proposed to determine the optimal stacking sequence on the buckling of laminated composite plates with midplane symmetry under various loading conditions. Classical lamination theory is used for the determination of the critical buckling load of simply supported angle-ply laminates. Analysis is performed by the Galerkin method and Rayleigh-Ritz method. The approximate solution of buckling is replaced by the algorithms that produce generalized eigenvalue problem. Direct search technique is employed to solve the optimization problem effectively. A series of computations is carried out for plates having different aspect ratios, different load ratios and different number of lay-ups.