Composite construction with concrete filled steel tubes (CFT) as structural columns gained prominence in the recent construction scenario to make use of the benefits of both steel and concrete. Double skinned tubular (CFDST) filled with concrete between tubes is subjected to passive confinement pressure increasing the load carrying capacity of columns. This paper delineates the effect of confinement by outer steel and GFRP tube on the axial load capacity on CFDST short as well as slender columns made of steel inner tube. The experimental study was carried out on twenty composite columns consisting of ten numbers of double skin tubular short columns and ten numbers of double skin slender columns (with slenderness ratio 12.5). Ten short columns consist two pairs of columns with outer tube material as steel tube, two pairs of columns with outer tube materials as GFRP tube and one pair of reinforced concrete column. Diameter of the outer tube to thickness ratio (Do/t) of 21 and 30 is considered for all the columns irrespective of the length. The finite element analysis was undergone by modelling the columns in the Abaqus software, simulated the experimental work in the analytical study and the results are compared in terms of load deflection curves and failure modes of the columns. The SCFDST short columns failed by local buckling of outer tube whereas the failure of FCFDST short columns failure is characterized by rupture of the outer tube. The column with Do/t ratio 21 confines the concrete significantly than the tubes with Do/t ratio 30 irrespective of the outer tube material. The slender columns failed by global buckling and the ultimate load taken by the slender columns is reduced by 23% compared to short columns in SCFDST and 28% in FCFDST columns.