Tonstad is a former municipality that was located in the old Vest-Agder county in Norway.

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee.

The last element is the plural form of the word staðr which means "place" or "abode".

[5] The municipal council (Herredsstyre) of Tonstad was made up of representatives that were elected to four year terms.

The tables below show the historical composition of the council by political party.