多节火箭是一种使用了两节或更多节的火箭，每节火箭皆搭载了自有的火箭发动机及推进剂。堆叠分节的方式将一节装载在数节之上；平行分节的方式则将一节装载在其它节的旁边。使得二或更多个火箭互相堆叠或放置于其它火箭的旁边"。结合起来的火箭称为运载火箭。两节式火箭相当常见，但最多也曾有五节式火箭成功发射。

火箭的重量因抛弃烧完推进剂的分节而减少。这样的分节技术使剩余分节的推力能更轻易地加速火箭至最终速度与高度。

在堆叠分节方式中，第一节火箭放在最下面而且通常是最大的，第二节装载其上且通常是第二大。其余部位则置于更上面。在平行分节方式中，固态火箭推进器或液态火箭推进器被用来升空。它们有时候会被称为「第0节」。在一般情况下，第一节及推进发动机点火向上推进整个火箭。当推进器用光燃料，就从火箭上分离(通常借由一点炸药)并掉落。第一节接着点火完成进程也接着分离。接下来位于火箭底部的第二节火箭跟着点火。这个进程不断重复直到最后一节的发动机燃烧完毕。

A multistage (or multi-stage) rocket is a rocket that uses two or more stages, each of which contains its own engines and propellant. A tandem or serial stage is mounted on top of another stage; a parallel stage is attached alongside another stage. The result is effectively two or more rockets stacked on top of or attached next to each other. Taken together these are sometimes called a launch vehicle. Two-stage rockets are quite common, but rockets with as many as five separate stages have been successfully launched. By jettisoning stages when they run out of propellant, the mass of the remaining rocket is decreased. This staging allows the thrust of the remaining stages to more easily accelerate the rocket to its final speed and height.