Three-dimensional finite element simulations of medium triaxial consolidation and drainage shear tests were carried out for a compacted clay and a soft soil under two end restraint conditions, corresponding to fully restricted end radial displacement and radial unconstrained (no end restraint and no friction), respectively. The strength and stress-strain results of specimens under different conditions were compared and analyzed to quantify the effects of end restraint conditions on the strength and stress-strain properties of the two soil materials. The results showed that the end restraint increased the strength of the soil but did not change the overall trend of the relationship curve between the axial deviatoric stress and axial strain, and that the effects of end restraints on the strength and stress-strain show a limited decrease with the increase of the surrounding pressure. In the triaxial test, compared with the radial unconstrained condition, the restraint caused by friction at the end of the specimen significantly increased the volume strain and the degree of softness of the soil had a larger influence on the bulk strain of the test. The average volume strain ε_v at the shear failure of end confined specimens increased by 17.2% for compacted clay soil and increased by 5.2% for soft soil compared to the radial unconstrained condition, respectively.