These are the results of the women's vault competition, one of six events for female competitors in artistic gymnastics at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. The qualification and final rounds took place on 21, 23 and 25 July at the Sports Palace of the Central Lenin Stadium.
Medalists
| Gold | Natalia Shaposhnikova Soviet Union |
| Silver | Steffi Kräker East Germany |
| Bronze | Melita Rühn Romania |
Results
Qualification
Sixty-two gymnasts competed in the compulsory and optional rounds on 21 and 23 July. The six highest scoring gymnasts advanced to the final on 25 July. Each country was limited to two competitors in the final. Half of the points earned by each gymnast during both the compulsory and optional rounds carried over to the final. This constitutes the "prelim" score.
Final
| Rank | Gymnast | C | O | Prelim | Final | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  Natalia Shaposhnikova (URS) | 10.000 | 9.800 | 9.900 | 9.825 | 19.725 |
 |  Steffi Kräker (GDR) | 9.950 | 9.900 | 9.925 | 9.750 | 19.675 |
 |  Melita Rühn (ROU) | 9.750 | 10.000 | 9.875 | 9.775 | 19.650 |
| 4 | Elena Davydova (URS) | 9.900 | 9.900 | 9.900 | 9.675 | 19.575 |
| 5 | Nadia Comăneci (ROU) | 9.950 | 9.900 | 9.925 | 9.425 | 19.350 |
| 6 | Maxi Gnauck (GDR) | 9.950 | 9.900 | 9.925 | 9.375 | 19.300 |