▶ Compressive behavior of closed-cell foam at medium strain rates was studied. ▶ The High Rate Instron Test System was used to maintain a constant loading rate. ▶ Plateau stress and energy absorption capacity are remarkable dependent on strain rate. Compressive behavior of closed-cell aluminum alloy foams at strain rates of 10−3–450s−1 has been studied experimentally. The fully stress–strain curves of specimens at medium strain rates were obtained using the High Rate Instron Test System, which can maintain a constant loading rate. The experimental results show that plateau stress and energy absorption capacity are remarkable dependent on strain rate, while the densification strain has a negligible dependence.