Elections to Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council were held on 5 May 2011, along with the 2011 United Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum. One third of the council was up for election, with each successful candidate to serve a four-year term of office, expiring in 2015.
21 seats were contested, including 2 seats in the Horwich North East ward following Barbara Ronson's resignation. The Labour Party won 15 seats, whilst the Conservatives won 5 and the Liberal Democrats 1.
The Labour Party gained overall control of the council for the first time since 2003.
After the election, the composition of the council was as follows:
Prior to the election the composition of the council was:
| 30 | 22 | 8 | |
| Labour | Conservative | Lib Dems |
After the election the composition of the council was:
| 35 | 20 | 5 | |
| Labour | Conservative | Lib Dems |
Two seats were up for election in this ward.