Concrete-filled　double-skin　steel　tubular　(CFDST)　columns　possess　lower　self-weight,　higher　ductility　and　energy　absorption　than　conventional　concrete-filled　steel　tubular　(CFST)　ones.　The　use　of　high-strength　concrete　(HSC)　can　further　enhance　their　advantages,　such　as　greater　mechanical　and　economical　benefits.　However,　there　is　little　information　on　the　structural　performance　of　CFDST　columns　with　HSC,　especially　ones　with　ultrahigh-strength　concrete　(UHSC).　In　this　paper,　a　comprehensive　experimental　program　consisted　of　24　specimens　was　carried　out　to　investigate　the　compressive　behaviour　of　circular　CFDST　short　columns　with　HSC　and　UHSC.　The　test　results　show　that　CFDST　columns　with　higher　strength　concrete　generally　achieve　higher　initial　stiffness　and　axial　strengths　but　lower　ductility.　Additionally,　the　axial　strengths　of　CFDST　columns　are　improved　as　the　yield　stress　and　wall　thickness　of　the　outer　steel　tubes　increase　and　as　the　hollow　ratio　decreases.　A　finite　element　(FE)　model　was　established　and　verified　against　the　present　test　results,　based　on　which　the　interaction　of　the　steel　tubes　and　concrete　and　the　load　distribution　on　components　were　analysed.　A　parametric　study　using　the　verified　FE　model　was　conducted　to　further　ascertain　the　influences　of　column　variables　on　the　compressive　behaviour　of　the　studied　CFDST　columns.　Finally,　the　applicability　of　the　existing　design　codes　and　empirical　models　to　design　the　CFDST　columns　was　evaluated　based　on　the　test　results　in　the　present　and　previous　studies.　It　is　shown　that　European　code　EN　1994−1−1　(EC4)　achieves　better　strength　predictions　than　other　design　models.　©　2021　Elsevier　Ltd