The precipitation behaviour of three Al-Mg-Si alloys has been studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and transmission electron microscopy. Seven exothermic peaks are usually observed in DSC thermograms of Al-Mg-Si alloys with high silicon contents. These peaks are believed to be caused by the formation of clusters of silicon and magnesium atoms, Guinier-Preston zones, small precipitates with an unknown structure, β″ phase, B′ phase, silicon precipitates and β phase. The silicon content has no obvious effect on the precipitation of β″ and B′ phases in these alloys, but it has a pronounced influence on the formation of silicon precipitates. The cold-rolling reduction before solution heat treatment is also found to affect the precipitation process appreciably.