Abstract: The three different locations, central skin, stringer fillet border and stringer axis, on the composite stiffened panel were damaged about 1 mm pit by the way of drop-hammer impact, in the next step, axial compression tests was carried on. Contrasted with a intact panel, the effect of damage locations on axial compression capacity of the composite stiffened panel was studied. The results show that damage location has a great impact on capacity of the panel. The buckling loads of the stiffened panels with damage locations in central skin, stringer fillet border and stringer axis were 83.1%,90.7%,96.1% of the intact panel, respectively, and the damage loads were 90.2%,84.8%,79.7% of the intact panel, respectively. The skin plays a major role in stability of stiffened panel while fillet plays a major role in final carrying capacity.