A study was conducted to examine the effect of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd in combination or alone)on the equilibrium and kinetics of phosphorus (P) retention in typic udic ferrisols by using both equilibrium and flow techniques. Fourteen soil samples with varying artificial contamination of Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd were prepared. Heavy metal pollution led to increases in retention capacity and maximum buffering capacity (MBC) of soil P. The rate of P retention was also increased and the time to reach equilibrium was advanced by heavy metals addition. The Elovich equation provided a satisfactory description of the P kinetic data.The influence of heavy metals on P retention was in the order of Pb＞Cu＞Zn, with greater effect in multiple metal pollution. These findings suggested that heavy metal pollution caused an increase in P fixation and thus a decline in P availability. Therefore, indirect influences of heavy metal contamination on soil nutrients may need more consideration when determining overall impact of heavy metals on soil environment.