Abstract: In order to research the influence of the width-height ratio to surface displacement, shear bearing, failure mode of rectangular roadway, the research method of theoretical analysis, numerical simulation and field application were used to study the surrounding stability of rectangular roadway with different width-height ratio. The results show that when the width of the roadway is larger than the height, the area of shear failure of the roof and the displacement of the two sides are both small in condition of horizontal stress is the maximum horizontal principal stress. When the horizontal stress is greater than the self-weight stress, the influence of the horizontal stress on the roof is more intense than that on the two sides. The roof is the area where the shear damage is the most serious. When the width of the roadway is larger than the height, the area where the shear damage occurs on the roof is smaller, the displacement of the two sides is smaller, and a larger ratio of width to height is beneficial to the whole surrounding rock stable. Based on the engineering practice with 1.76 width-height ratio of Shanqu Coalmine, the maximum roof deformation is 134 mm and the maximum relative movement of two sides is 195 mm. The controlling effect of surrounding is well.