Abstract: In plateau lacustrine, the modulus of compression of soft clay is low. Sometimes, equivalent compression modulus in the range of the effective depth of foundation settlement analysis can be less than 2.5MPa. The empirical settlement coefficient exceeds the range of standard. The settlement is too large. This paper uses the three-point method, the hyperbolic curve, the Asaoka method to fit final settlement. The results are compared with the foundation settlement calculated with the layer-wise summation method. Six empirical settlement coefficients are obtained. The paper analyzes the equivalent compression modulus and points out the fitting curve equation. The range of equivalent compression modulus is 2.05~4.15MPa. Meanwhile, this paper points out the suggested value for the empirical settlement coefficient They are in the range of equivalent compression modulus 1.5~4.15MPa. It makes up the weaknesses of empirical settlement coefficient that in plateau lacustrine.