In order to analyze cushioning characteristics of the circular honeycomb, this paper conducted an in-depth study on its out-of-plane impact performance. Considering the limitations of the experimental methods, the finite element simulation is used to study the influences of cell wall thickness and impact velocity on the out-of-plane impact performance of the circular honeycombs with two arrangement modes(regular and staggered). And Ansys/LS-DYNA is employed. The comparison of the calculated results from the finite element models based on the array of cells and the representative cell with the theoretical values shows consistent agreement, which proves the reliability of the finite element models. The data analysis shows that the out-of-plane average peak stresses of the circular honeycombs increase with the increase of impact velocity or cell wall thickness. At a given impact velocity, the out-of-plane specific energy absorption capacity of circular honeycomb is related to the cell wall thickness and cell arrangement mode. Under the condition that the configuration parameters are fixed, the out-of-plane specific energy absorption capacity of staggered circular honeycombs is greater than that of the regularly arranged circular honeycombs; as the cell wall thickness increases, the out-of-plane energy absorption capacity of circular honeycombs gradually increases.