Abstract This paper addresses the buckling and post-buckling of laminated composite plates using higher order shear deformation theory associated with Green–Lagrange non-linear strain–displacement relationships. All higher order terms arising from nonlinear strain–displacement relations are included in the formulation. The present plate theory satisfies zero transverse shear strain conditions at the top and bottom surfaces of the plate in von Karman sense. A C0 isoparametric finite element is developed for the present nonlinear model.