Abstract: The inclined strut-free retaining walls have the advantages in deformation and stability control. However, the insight into the stability theory of inclined retaining walls is limited. The whole process of deformation and failure of the inclined retaining walls during excavation is studied through numerical simulation, and the influences of parameters, including the inclined angle, the embedded ratio and the shear strength of the soil, on the factor of safety are analyzed. The method for calculating the anti-overturning stability and overall stability of the inclined retaining walls is derived, and the validation is carried out by comparing with the centrifuge tests. The results show that: (1) For the conventional inclination angle (≤20°), the inclined retaining walls experience overturning failure. (2) The capacity of the overturning resistance and deforming control of the inclined retaining walls are enhanced with the increasing inclination angle, buried depth of piles and shear strength of the soil. (3) The wall weight influences the pivot location, and the weight and the pivot can increase the anti-overturning moment of the retaining walls. Hence, the inclined retaining walls have a great anti-overturning capacity.