Calculation　methods　for　the　ultimate　load　carrying　capacity　of　CFST　(concrete　filled　steel　tube　column)　columns　from　foreign　and　domestic　design　criteria　are　introduced.　For　CFST　single　tube　columns,　dumbbell　shaped　columns　and　laced　columns,　the　influence　of　slenderness　ratio　and　eccentricity　on　the　ultimate　load　carrying　capability　are　all　basically　independent.　Following　this　rule,　a　unified　calculation　method　for　the　load　carrying　capacity　of　CFST　columns　is　studied　from　an　analysis　of　the　calculation　methods　of　design　criteria.　Test　verifications　of　the　new　calculation　method　on　CFST　single　tube　columns,　dumbbell　shaped　columns　and　laced　columns　are　conducted,　respectively,　and　the　results　indicated　that　the　calculated　values　agree　well　with　the　test　values.　Finally,　the　unified　method　for　calculating　the　load　carrying　capacity　of　CFST　columns　is　provided.