Abstract: The calculation of bending stress of hollow beams was studied by using the higher-order shear deformation theory. It is pointed out that the influence of shear deformation cannot be ignored sometimes in the calculation of bending stress of thin hollow beams under the action of distributed load. The general closed analytical solution of the bending stress of a hollow beam can be obtained by using the higher-order shear deformation theory. The correctness of the shear correction coefficient in the theoretical calculation of Timoshenko beam bending deformation is verified. And it has theoretical guiding significance for calculating bending stress of hollow beam in practical engineering and material mechanics teaching.