The study was conducted to investigate the effects of iron and vitamin A on performance, hormone levels in serum and metabolism of iron in laying hens. A 3×2 (iron×vitamin A) completely random experiment was designed. A total of four hundred and thirty-two 27-week-old commercial Hyline Brown laying hens were randomly divided into 6 treatments. Each treatment contained 6 replicates with 12 laying hens per replicate. The experiment lasted for 8 weeks which contained two periods of 27～30 weeks of age and 31～34 weeks of age. Iron supplemental levels were 0, 30, 60 mg/kg, and vitamin A supplemental levels were 4 000, 8 000 IU/kg, respectively. The results showed that: 1) laying rates, average daily feed intake, feedegg ratio and the levels of growth hormone, iron, total ironbinding capacity and iron saturation in serum were not significantly affected (P>0.05), but increased average egg weight, insuline levels and ceruloplasmin activity in serum (P<0.05) by dietary supplementation of iron; 2) laying rates, average egg weight, average daily intake, feedegg ratio, and the levels of growth hormone, insuline and iron saturation in serum were not significantly affected (P>0.05), but increased the concentration of iron, total ironbinding capacity, and ceruloplasmin activity in serum (P<0.05) by dietary supplementation of vitamin A; 3) interaction of iron and vitamin A only significantly increased the activity of ceruloplasmin in serum (P<0.05). The results indicated that dietary supplementation of iron did not improve the performance of laying hens, but dietary supplementation of vitamin A promoted the absorption of iron.