Abstract This manuscript investigates the constant damage inelastic displacement ratios for the near-fault pulse-like ground motions. The inelastic displacement ratios are computed for three hysteretic models and 81 near-fault pulse-like ground motions. The effects of near-fault pulse-like ground motions, period normalization, earthquake magnitude, rupture distance, peak ground velocity (PGV), maximum incremental velocity (MIV), structural degrading behavior and ultimate ductility factor μu are evaluated and discussed statistically. The results indicate that the near-fault pulse-like ground motions can significantly increase the displacement demand of structures with medium period. The period normalization can clearly reduce the dispersion of inelastic displacement ratio. The effect of MIV on inelastic displacement ratios is more obvious than PGV. The near-fault pulse-like ground motions are more dangerous for structures with strength degrading behavior than ordinary ground motions. A predictive model is proposed for the application of constant damage inelastic displacement ratios for near-fault pulse-like ground motions.