To study the compression behaviour of cold-formed thin-walled steel storage rack uprights with complex sections exposed to localised fires, this study, based on EN 1991-1-2 and EN 1993-1-2, used the finite element software ABAQUS to simulate the temperature field of uprights under localised fires when the fire source was on the bottom of members. The stability analysis on compression uprights under localised fires was carried out. Because the fire source had an important influence on temperature field of uprights, the flame length, diameter and heat release rate of localised fires were considered in finite element analyses(FEA). The developed finite element model was verified against existing experimental data, and then parameter study was conducted, by considering different types of cross-section, multiple lengths, different thicknesses and various temperatures. The results of parametric study show that the main factors affecting the axial strength were the length and temperature of storage rack uprights; and the temperature gradient along the length of storage rack uprights under localised fire had important influence on the failure model of uprights. Based on the results of parametric study, this paper reports a modified direct strength method(DSM) curve(800 ℃) for cold-formed thin-walled steel storage rack uprights failing in global buckling mode under localised fires.