A model for analysis of the crushing mechanism of thin-walled rectangular tube is presented. The crushing modes of rectangular tubes may be characterized as either compact or noncompact and the model presented only considers compact modes. The unloading process in the crushing are categorized into three different stages where the distinction is based on the ratio of outward to inward fold length. Using the kinematic relations and the energy conservation principle, the instantaneous crush load is derived. An approximate equation that considers the rolling behavior is also given so that the crush load history may be established. The equation is experimentally proved.