The men's vault competition was one of eight events for male competitors in artistic gymnastics at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

[2] The silver medals went to Li Ning of China, Koji Gushiken and Shinji Morisue of Japan, and Mitchell Gaylord of the United States.

Li Ning and Lou Yun of China had taken second and fourth, respectively, at the 1983 world championships, the highest rankings of the non-boycotting nations.

The United States made its 14th appearance, breaking a tie with the absent Hungary for most of any nation; the Americans had missed only the inaugural 1896 vault and the boycotted 1980 Games.

Half of the points earned by each gymnast during both the compulsory and optional rounds carried over to the final.