Simple and accurate estimates of stage–discharge characteristics are extremely important for supporting appropriate management of two- or multi-stage compound channels, which commonly form in natural rivers or are constructed in regulation projects for urban rivers. Although various methods are available for conveyance estimation of two-stage compound channels, very few are concerned with the multi-stage case. After a critical review of predictive methods for two-stage channels, this paper presents a general model for predicting the stage–discharge relationship in multi-stage compound channels. A multi-stage compound section was divided laterally into several homogeneous subsections, which were further classified into seven subdivision elements. In each element, we employed a general expression to analyse momentum balance, which accounts for momentum exchange between adjacent subsections …