Flow characteristics occurring a side-weir overflow in rectangular channel is investigated in this study. A numerical model based on the two -dimensional shallow-water equations is employed to review the factors influencing on the side- weir overflow discharge and the change of flow depths and velocities. It is found that the discharge coefficient which has the most significant influence on the overflow is affected by geometric characteristics of a side-weir, Froude number of the main channel flow and the flow depth of the main channel at the starting point of a side-weir. And the discharge coefficient applicable to a practical design of a side-weir is proposed by deriving a relationship between Froude number of the main channel flow at the starting point of a side-weir and Froude number of the main channel flow.