ABSTRACT The applicability of a method for predicting ‘bearing capacity increase’ in reinforced sandy ground was examined using tests performed under various test conditions. It was found that the present method predicted, with reasonable accuracy, the bearing capacity increase in sandy ground, reinforced with stiff reinforcement. This method may not be applicable for sandy ground reinforced with extensible reinforcement due to the unsuccessful formation of a semi-rigid zone under the footing. An investigation into the settlement of a footing on reinforced sandy ground, at ultimate footing load condition, suggested that the settlement of footing for reaching peak footing load may be correlated to the ‘deep-footing’ and the ‘wide-slab’ mechanisms. That is, the ultimate settlement ratio between reinforced and unreinforced model sandy ground, SRf, may be linearly correlated to ‘BCRD and ‘BCRS’, which represent ‘deep-footing’ and ‘wide-slab’ effects, respectively, on the ultimate bearing capacity increase in reinforced sandy ground.