Abstract The optimization is performed to reduce the mass of CNG pressure vessel reinforced with composite materials in the hoop direction. An axisymmetric shell element which takes into account the layered liner and hoop composite materials is thus developed and incorporated into a program Axicom. The accuracy of the program is then verified using the 4 noded element in ANSYS. Three different cases of optimization are then performed using the Axicom: (1) uniform hoop thickness, (2) varying hoop thickness, and (3) varying the ply angles and accordingly the thickness. Compared with a traditional method, cases (2) and (3) were found to be very effective in reducing the thickness and cost of the hoop composite materials by about 80% without sacrificing the safety factors.