A series of six full-scale tests was conducted to investigate the local web buckling strength of coped I-beams with small cope depth to beam depth ratio (d /D) and the effectiveness of horizontal softeners at the cope. The test results were compared with the finite element results and the predictions using the plate buckling equation proposed by Cheng et al. (1984). It was shown that Cheng's prediction underestimated the test results by about 20% for specimens with cope depth to beam depth ratio smaller than 0.2. To improve this discrepancy, a modified plate buckling model which considered the shear buckling phenomenon at the coped region was developed for predicting the local buckling strength of coped beams. The test-to-predicted ratios based on the modified plate buckling model varied from 0.94 to 1.06.