It is important for red clay to study the swelling-shrinkage characteristics, water-sensitive and their relevance. Laboratory tests were conducted on compacted specimens with different initial water contents. There were higher content of colloid and bigger specific surface in red clay and absorbed water, which was recoverable, it was main form in pore of red clay, so red clay was more sensitive than other clay. The results of swelling tests showed that it is close for red clay specimens, with same initial dry density, of capacity to holding water, regardless of the initial water content. The matrix suction helps to increase samples’ expansibility and reduce its’ shrinkage. The swelling-shrinkage properties of red clay are timeliness. Affected by the water-sensitive properties, the changes of swelling or shrinkage are obvious and rapid at the preliminary stage, and then fall into a decline. The swelling capability of samples in loading expansion ratio test is lower than that in free expansion ratio test. And the sample shrunk in middle loading expansion ratio test. Results of tests indicated that the swelling property is more notable than shrinkage in the swelling-shrinkage property of red clay, which is identical with the actual projects.