A numerical model for the flexural analysis of short reinforced masonry (RM) columns subjected to vertical and lateral loading is presented. A layered line element formulated for the analysis of reinforced concrete beam columns by the authors has been suitably modified for this purpose by incorporating the material nonlinearities associated with the RM. The modelling of the RM column accounts for the effect of the early cracking in the mortar joint and the bond–slip characteristics between the steel reinforcement and the masonry grout in addition to the material nonlinearity of the masonry and the steel. The model has been validated by comparing its prediction with the load–deflection response of four RM columns tested under varying levels of the axial load. The importance of including bond–slip characteristics in the modelling is demonstrated through the examples.