Abstract: Aimed at problems lying in the existing m methods for calculation of laterally loaded piles installed in multi-layered soils,the finite difference method and the pole system finite element method of elastic foundation beam with elastic links were presented in order to compute the displacements and internal forces by adopting actual modulus of subgrade reaction of layered soils.The computations and postprocessing of images for displacements and internal forces of piles were programmed.It was shown by computation and comparison of practical examples that the calculated results by the two numerical methods coincided very well.Meanwhile,the two methods were more precise and efficient than the existing conversion methods of subgrade modulus.Therefore,they could be directly applied to the design calculation and analysis of laterally loaded piles installed in multi-layered soils.