The influence of ground water level on shallow foundation design is presented for the ultimate limit state of the bearing resistance, according to the formulation presented in annex D of EN 1997:2004. Probabilistic and deterministic methods were used and compared. Concerning probabilistic methods, the advanced first-order second-moment method (AFOSM) was applied and the results were validated by Monte Carlo simulations. For the deterministic calculation, the partial factors method recommended by the Eurocode and applied in most practical cases, was implemented. For the assumptions herein made the width B determined by the probabilistic method is always smaller than the one obtained deterministically.