Beam string structures(BSS) are one kind of efficient structure system because the bending moment in the beams is reduced greatly through the struts and the strings. As the struts in BSS are used as middle supports to the beam and always in compression, the buckling of the struts should be avoided. This paper investigates the lateral buckling of the struts in BSS. Firstly, the strut of a one-strut BSS is simplified into an analytical model by considering load is formulated and some special cases of the model are analyzed. Finally, the lateral buckling load of the strut is numerically examined by means of parameter studies. It is known that, because on end of the struts is jointed to the beam while the other end is connected to the strings, the buckling of the struts not only depends on the length of the struts and the stiffness of the joints, but also depends on the rise and the lateral stiffness of the beam, the layout of the strings and the number of the struts.