The 2010 Eliteserien promotion/relegation play-offs was the 38th time a spot in the Norwegian top flight was decided by play-off matches between top tier and second-level clubs.
At the end of the 2010 season, Kongsvinger and Sandefjord were relegated directly to the 2011 1. divisjon, and was replaced by Sogndal and Sarpsborg 08 who were directly promoted.
The play-offs between Eliteserien and 1. divisjon have been held every year since 1972 with exceptions in 1994 and 2011. In 2010 they took place for the two divisions following the conclusion of the regular season and are contested by the fourteenth-placed club in Eliteserien and the three clubs finishing below the automatic promotion places in 1. divisjon. The fixtures are determined by final league position – two semifinals: 14th in Eliteserien v 6th in 1. divisjon and 4th v 5th, and the winner then play each other to determine who play in Eliteserien the next season.
Four teams entered a play-off for the last Eliteserien spot for the 2011 season. These were:
The four teams first played single game knockout semifinals, with the winners (Hønefoss and Fredrikstad) advancing to a two-legged final for the 16th and last spot in the 2011 Eliteserien season. Fredrikstad were promoted to the top flight with an 8–1 win on aggregate against Hønefoss.
| Final league position – 1. divisjon | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | ||||||||||
| 3 | Fredrikstad | 28 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 53 | 37 | +16 | 50 | |
| 4 | Løv-Ham | 28 | 13 | 4 | 11 | 46 | 38 | +8 | 43 | |
| 5 | Ranheim | 28 | 12 | 7 | 9 | 37 | 38 | –1 | 43 | |
The 14th-placed Eliteserien team, Hønefoss, took part in a two-legged play-off against third-placed 1. divisjon team Fredrikstad, to decide who would play in the 2011 Tippeligaen.
Fredrikstad won 8–1 on aggregate and were promoted to the 2011 Tippeligaen; Hønefoss were relegated to the 1. divisjon.[1] ----