Abstract: The comprehensive results from FEM on square footings supported on high-strength geocell and unreinforced sand beds are introduced. The stress distribution, displacement distribution and friction on the surface of a high-strength geocell-reinforced foundation are studied. The results show that the high-strength geocell reinforcement system behaves much stiffer and carries greater loading than the equivalent unreinforced system does. Beside the friction of geocell, the height of geocell keeps the sand from being displaced under the applied load and redistributeds the surcharge over a wider area, thereby it increases the shear strength of the composite system, which in turn substantially improves the bearing capacity of a sand bed.