Polyethylene (PE) is increasingly used in structural applications due to its light weight and rust-resistant nature. With growing demand for the use of PE as a structural material, there is a need for mathematical models that describe the mechanical behavior of this material. Curve fitting using a linear time-dependent model is a common approach for modeling creep of PE at the macrostructure! level. However, besides the point estimates of the model parameters and the (visual) fit of the model to experimental data, little else is learnt from the curve-fitting approach. This work presents a rigorous statistical approach for modeling creep compliance of PE. Four high-density PE resins used over a wide range of applications are studied. Linear viscoelastic modeling using the multi-Kelvin element theory is examined in two forms: model linear in parameters and model nonlinear in parameters. With the application of valid statistical techniques, complex relationships between model parameters, largely un-studied before, are observed, such as evidence of a high degree of correlation among material parameters of the creep model. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 51:1227-1235, 2011. (C) 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers