Abstract Elastoplastic design of process equipment in petrochemical and power generation industries requires the consideration of thermal ratcheting. Classical Bree diagrams assuming no strain hardening have been the basis in most of today's design Codes and Standards, which can be excessively conservative. In this study, three major kinematic hardening models by Pager, Armstrong and Frederick, and Chaboche are considered for modeling detailed thermal ratcheting behaviors and establishing Bree diagrams. It is found that the linear hardening model by Prager provides a reasonable upper bound ratcheting strain estimation while the perfect plastic assumption by Bree is adequate for the design diagram construction.