Elections to Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council were held on 3 May 2012. One third of the council was up for election, with each successful candidate to serve a four-year term of office, expiring in 2016.
22 seats were contested, including all 3 Bradshaw seats, following the resignation of Conservative married couple, Diane and Paul Brierley. The Labour Party won 14 seats, whilst the Conservatives won 7 seats and the Liberal Democrats 1 seat.
After the election, the composition of the council was as follows:
Prior to the election the composition of the council was:
| 35 | 20 | 5 | |
| Labour | Conservative | L |
After the election the composition of the council was:
| 41 | 16 | 3 | |
| Labour | Conservative | L |
All three seats were up for election. Dean stood again for election in 2014, Haslam in 2015, and Hall in 2016.