Audible noise of can-type filter capacitors in high- voltage direct current converter stations originates from the vibration of capacitor cases, so it is meaningful to investigate the vibration characteristics. However, no experiment under practical excitations or thorough theoretical analysis was presented for the vibration characteristics. This study theoretically and experimentally investigated the vibration characteristics of can-type filter capacitors with stacked elements parallel to bottom. The vibration amplitude was found to be proportional to voltage squared. If the frequency spectrum of excitation voltage included several harmonics (more than three), vibration amplitude on some specific frequencies was related with the phases of these voltage components. Each capacitor surface had a concavo-convex vibration shape and the vibration of the bottom surface and the side surfaces were in opposite phases. The vibration amplitude of the bottom surface was the largest. Moreover, frequency characteristics of capacitor vibration were studied. The frequency response of the bottom surface was bigger than that of narrow and broad side surfaces for lower frequencies, while was smaller for higher frequencies. It was inferred that bottom surface vibration was mainly caused by elastic forces from direct contact and side surfaces vibration mainly came from damping forces from dielectric liquids.