The average shear-bearing ratio (β) of buckling restrained brace (BRB) is a key parameter, affecting the seismic performance of buckling restrained braced steel frames (BRBF). In order to determine the dynamic response of multi-story BRBF with different β values, two kinds of structural models are established, one is with the rigid connection of beam-column joints, and the other model has both hinged and rigid joints. The nonlinear time-history analysis of multi-story BRBF structures are carried out by selecting the seismic waves with predominant period close to the first mode period of each research model, and the seismic waves that are significantly different from it. The influence of β on the shear displacement, bending displacement and vibration mode of the structure are revealed: when β ≤ 30%, the story drift of multi-story BRBF structure is mainly shear deformation and the first vibration mode is predominant. When β increases, the bending deformation of the story drift increases. The second vibration mode of the structure is predominant when β ≈ 90%. It is suggested that the equivalent seismic force of multi-story BRBF structure with β > 30% should not be calculated by the base shear force method.