| Election Name: | 1987 Colchester Borough Council election |
| Country: | Essex |
| Type: | parliamentary |
| Previous Election: | 1986 Colchester Borough Council election |
| Previous Year: | 1986 |
| Next Election: | 1988 Colchester Borough Council election |
| Next Year: | 1988 |
| Seats For Election: | 20 out of 60 seats to Colchester Borough Council |
| Majority Seats: | 31 |
| Turnout: | 45.7% (4.1%) |
| Party1: | Conservative Party (UK) |
| Last Election1: | 28 seats, 33.3% |
| Seats1: | 9 |
| Seats After1: | 24 |
| Seat Change1: | 4 |
| Popular Vote1: | 17,188 |
| Percentage1: | 39.7% |
| Swing1: | 6.4% |
| Party2: | SDP-Liberal Alliance |
| Last Election2: | 16 seats, 36.0% |
| Seats2: | 9 |
| Seats After2: | 22 |
| Seat Change2: | 6 |
| Popular Vote2: | 15,907 |
| Percentage2: | 36.8% |
| Swing2: | 0.8% |
| Party3: | Labour Party (UK) |
| Last Election3: | 12 seats, 26.9% |
| Seats3: | 1 |
| Seats After3: | 10 |
| Seat Change3: | 2 |
| Popular Vote3: | 8,834 |
| Percentage3: | 20.4% |
| Swing3: | 6.5% |
| Party4: | Tiptree Residents Association |
| Last Election4: | 3 seats, 2.7% |
| Seats4: | 1 |
| Seats After4: | 3 |
| Popular Vote4: | 1,242 |
| Percentage4: | 2.9% |
| Swing4: | 0.2% |
| Party5: | Independent (politician) |
| Last Election5: | 1 seat, 1.1% |
| Seats5: | 0 |
| Seats After5: | 1 |
| Popular Vote5: | 79 |
| Percentage5: | 0.2% |
| Swing5: | 0.9% |
Elections to Colchester Borough Council were held on 5 May 1987 alongside local elections across the United Kingdom.