To compare the designing effects (DE) among different complex sampling designing programs. Data from the '2002 Chinese Nutrition and Health Survey' was used as an example to generate the sampling population, and statistical simulation method was used to estimate the values of DEs from six complex sampling designing programs. It was found that the values of DEs varied among the six complex sampling designing programs. The values of the DEs were associated with the sample sizes in a positive way, with more sample stages and less stratified categories. Reduction of the numbers of sample stages and detailing stratified categories could decrease the DE values so as to improve the DE.