| Event: | Archery |
| Games: | 1981 |
| Venue: | Manila Polo Club |
| Location: | Makati, Philippines |
| Dates: | 10 December – 13 December |
| Prev: | 1979 |
| Next: | 1983 |
Archery at the 1981 SEA Games was held at the Manila Polo Club in Makati, Philippines from 10 to 13 December.
| Men's individual |  Donald Pandiangan | 1.240 pts | Carlos Santos | 1.200 | Hendra Gunawan | 1.199 | |
| Men's 30 m | Donald Pandiangan | 679 pts | Carlos Santos | 677 | Hendra Gunawan | 675 | |
| Men's 50 m | Donald Pandiangan | 639 pts | Carlos Santos | 630 | Tatang Budiman | 611 | |
| Men's 70 m | Donald Pandiangan | 621 pts | Hendra Gunawan | 604 |  Banchoong Dosanee | 604 | |
| Men's 90 m | Donald Pandiangan | 556 pts | Vallop Pottaya | 529 | Carlos Santos | 529 | |
| Team | INDONESIA | 3.625 pts | THAILAND | 3.592 |  PHILIPPINES | 3.550 | |
| Women's individual | Amornrat Kaewbadihoon | 1.223 pts | Nurfitriyana Saiman | 1.184 | Tokahuta | 1.159 | |
| Women's 30 m | Amornrat Kaewbadihoon | 646 pts | Ramos | 644 | Nurfitriyana Saiman | 635 | |
| Women's 50 m | Amornrat Kaewbadihoon | 599 pts | Jariya Jingjit | 575 |  Christina Law | 572 | |
| Women's 60 m | Nurfitriyana Saiman | 624 pts | Amornrat Kaewbadihoon | 621 | Dhamayanti Adhidarma | 595 | |
| Women's 70 m | Amornrat Kaewbadihoon | 607 pts | Nurfitriyana Saiman | 572 | Cherrie Valera | 552 | |
| Team | THAILAND | 3.532 pts | INDONESIA | 3.455 | PHILIPPINES | 3.385 | |