A　component　importance　evaluation　method　for　frame　structures　under　horizontal　and　vertical　loads　is　developed　in　this　paper.The　strain　energy　equation,　together　with　the　node-external　force　relationships　of　frame　components,　is　first　used　to　calculate　the　axial　forces,　shear　forces　and　bending　moments　of　beams　and　columns.Then　component-level　partial　importance　coefficients　are　defined　based　on　the　ratios　between　the　calculated　internal　forces　of　components　and　their　resisting　forces.The　coefficients　embody　the　utilization　levels　of　the　resisting　forces　of　components.Subsequently　integrated　importance　coefficients　are　defined　using　the　combinations　of　different　partial　coefficients,　which　reflect　the　component　contributions　to　the　entire　load　capacity　of　a　frame　structure.Lastly,　the　feasibility　of　the　developed　method　is　verified　against　two　different　frame　structures.The　analysis　results　demonstrate　that　the　method　can　provide　quantitative　evaluations　for　the　optimal　design　and　the　progressive　collapse　design　of　frame　structures.　©　2017,　Editorial　Office　of　Chinese　Journal　of　Computational　Mechanics.　All　right　reserved.