Abstract This study has been conducted to evaluate the orientation-dependent stored energy of deformed grains from the data measured using electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) analysis. The stored energy in deformed grains is an important term as a driving force for static recrystallization of cold-rolled steels. Subgrain method based on subgrain structure is used for quantitative analysis of the stored energy developed in cold-rolled low carbon steels to a reduction of 50% and compared with conventional methods. The result demonstrated that the main texture components having high stored energy are mainly of {5 5 4}〈2 2 5〉 orientation and partially γ-fibre orientations. The subgrain method appears to be a proper method to evaluate the spatial distribution of stored energy as a function of orientation.