In order to study the shear performance of variable cross-section corrugated steel webs, firstly, based on the theory of orthotropic plate and the theory of small deflection of thin plate, the calculation formula of elastic overall shear buckling strength of corrugated steel webs is deduced by Galerkin method. Secondly, the calculation value of the derived formula is compared with those of ANSYS finite element and code formula. Moreover, the derived value of the formula is also compared with the experimental value in the literature. Finally, the influence of different types of corrugations, web thickness and girder height on the elastic shear buckling behavior of variable cross-section corrugated steel web is studied by using the finite element method. The results show that the calculated value of the derived formula is in good agreement with that of the finite element method and test value. Because the contribution of Dxy to the global shear buckling strength of the corrugated steel web is ignored in the specifications formula, the calculation of the value of the specifications is more conservative. With the increase of the corrugated size, the shear buckling strength generally increases first and then decreases, where the shear performance of the 1600 corrugated steel web reaches the maximum. With the increase of the web thickness, the shear buckling strength increases gradually. The shear buckling strength of the variable section corrugated steel web is greater than that of the constant section corrugated steel web. With the increase of the angle β between the girder bottom and the horizontal direction, the shear buckling strength of the variable section corrugated steel web increases. The conclusion can provide a reference for the shear design of the same type of bridge.