This paper studies the effect of the type of pile on the behaviour of basal reinforced pile supported embankments constructed on soft clay. The performance of embankment supported on both end bearing piles and floating piles was studied. 3D column models were used for carrying out the parametric studies to examine the development of arching mechanism, settlements and stresses on the foundation surface and the pile head and the development of tensile forces in the reinforcement layers. Full three-dimensional analyses were performed to study the lateral movement of the soft foundation soil near the embankment toe and the results obtained from the analyses were compared with those from British Standard BS8006-2010. © 2013 Indian Geotechnical Society.