Abstract: The bucket foundation is an advanced technology in coastal and offshore engineering recently. The three\|dimension finite element model of bucket foundation was established by using the finite element analysis software ABAQUS and the limit equilibrium theory. The horizontal bearing capacity of bucket foundation and the distributions of earth pressure along outside of bucket foundation under horizontal load were studied by using the displacement controlled method, in which some factors were considered such as soil characteristics and length to diameter ratio of bucket foundation. Results show that the bucket foundation rotates with the center of one\|third bucket length to the bottom, meanwhile the earth pressure is maximum outside of the bucket at this point. And the influence of soil characteristics is not greater than that of length to diameter ratio on the horizontal bearing capacity of bucket foundation.