Elections to Antrim Borough Council were held on 20 May 1981 on the same day as the other Northern Irish local government elections.

The election used three district electoral areas to elect a total of 15 councillors.

Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes.

1977: 2 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Independent, 1 x Independent Nationalist 1981: 2 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x IIP 1977-1981 Change: SDLP gain from Independent, Independent Nationalist joins IIP 1977: 3 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Alliance 1981: 3 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP 1977-1981 Change: SDLP gain from Alliance 1977: 3 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Alliance 1981: 2 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x Alliance 1977-1981 Change: DUP gain from UUP