Previous　studies　mainly　focused　on　the　prestrike　phenomena　in　single-break　vacuum　circuit　breakers　(VCBs)　under　capacitive　switching.　However,　experimental　investigations　on　prestrike　characteristics　under　capacitive　making　operations　of　double-break　VCBs　were　not　addressed　in　literatures,　which　were　important　for　the　strategies　of　capacitive　controlled　switching.　The　objective　of　this　paper　is　to　experimentally　investigate　the　prestrike　characteristics　of　single-break　and　double-break　VCBs　in　switching　capacitor　banks,　to　determine　the　most　suitable　type　of　VCBs　in　capacitive　switching.　The　double-break　VCB　consists　of　two　commercial　12　kV　vacuum　interrupters　(VIs)　with　cup-type　axial　magnetic　field　(AMF)　contacts,　which　is　the　same　VI　in　the　single-break　VCB.　The　results　show　that　the　50%　prestrike　gap　d50　of　each　VI　in　the　double-break　VCB,　which　was　calculated　based　on　the　complementary　Weibull　distribution,　was　significantly　reduced　by　10.5%　compared　with　the　single-break　VCB.　Due　to　the　voltage-sharing　effect　in　the　double-break　VCB,　scatters　in　prestrike　gaps　of　the　double-break　VCB　were　smaller　than　the　single-break　VCB.　With　the　application　of　the　double-break　VCB,　both　the　inrush　current　interruption　and　the　prestrike　arcing　time　can　be　reduced.　The　double-break　VCB　can　reduce　the　erosion　caused　by　the　inrush　current　of　the　low-voltage　side　VI.　In　capacitive　switching,　the　double-break　VCB　is　superior　to　the　single-break　VCB,　especially　in　capacitive　controlled　switching.　©　2021　Elsevier　B.V.