To investigate the impact response and energy absorption performance of thin-walled square paper tube under axial impact, dynamic impact and quasi-static compression tests were carried out by drop hammer testing machine and universal material testing machine. The square paper tube has a similar progressive crushing collapse mode in dynamic impact test and quasi-static compression test. The test results show that the specific energy absorption and energy absorption capacity per unit volume of the square paper tube are related to the side length and wall thickness ratio (c/h) of the tube. With the increase of c/h, specific energy absorption and volumetric energy absorption capability of the paper tube decrease rapidly. Furthermore, the relationship between the crushing force and the impact velocity during the impact process is analyzed. Finally, a theoretical model of energy absorption performance of the square paper tube under axial impact is proposed, which has a good correlation with the test results. The proposed model can contribute to the application of paper tube to the design of impact protection structure.