This study investigates the effect of cross-section shape on the behavior of short steel columns subjected to axial compression load. A nonlinear finite element model using ANSYS 9.0 has been developed to investigate the behavior of square hallow steel columns. The steel is assumed to behave as an elastic-plastic material with strain hardening in compression. Two types of elements have been used to model the steel; SHELL43 and SOLID45. The load-axial displacement curves and the deformation shapes were predicted, a good agreement observed when compared the results with the experimental results. An extensive parametric study on columns with square, circular, channel, H-shape, W-shape, and angle section has been done. All the analyzed columns have the same value of cross-section area, length, yielding strength, and boundary conditions. The results shows that the behavior of short steel columns is controlled mainly by the thickness of its parts to area ratio (t/A), and the best shape was H-shape with (t/A) ratio equal to (1.28%).