This　study　investigated　the　seismic　performance　of　welded　stainless　steel　H-section　columns.　Ten　columns　were　tested　under　cyclic　horizontal　load;　their　seismic　performance　was　analyzed　according　to　their　hysteresis　curves,　degree　of　plasticity,　and　energy　dissipation　capacity.　The　test　results　obtained　were　used　to　validate　the　developed　finite-element　(Feb)　model,　which　was　later　utilized　in　parametric　studies.　In　the　tests,　it　was　found　that　the　final　failure　form　of　all　test　columns　was　local　buckling.　Slenderness　of　the　component　plates　and　axial　load　ratio　were　the　governing　factors　which　affected　the　development　of　plasticity　within　the　cross　sections,　the　energy　dissipation　density,　and　the　ductility　coefficient.　The　cross-section　classification　in　the　relevant　European　code　is　discussed　in　this　paper.　Based　on　numerical　data,　a　ductility-based　design　approach　is　proposed,　which　can　provide　a　reference　for　the　seismic　design　of　welded　stainless　steel　H-section　columns.　(C)　2021　American　Society　of　Civil　Engineers.