The vertical bearing mechanism of screw piles was studied by the model test and numerical analysis. The results of the analysis show that the bearing capacity of the screw piles depends on the soil shear strength and a shear zone along the pile will take place in the surrounding soil under ultimate load. Parameter analysis was presented including the pile-soil interface properties, the soil shear strength, and the design parameters of the screw pile. The parameter study indicates that the key factors influence the vertical bearing capacity of screw piles are the soil shear strength, the screw pitch and the width of screw. A calculation method was obtained based on the field test and numerical results.