Abstract: Six items were proposed for evaluating the shape control performances of a mill, including adjustable area and transversal stiffness of loaded roll gap, shape control efficacy curve, edge drop, average contact force between rollers, and its distribution ununiformity. The finite element models of several types of famous mills, such as HC, CVC, PC and DSR, were developed to calculate the roll. The deformation and control performances of these mills were analysed detailedly.