Yuan Tan (died 205) was the oldest son of the warlord Yuan Shao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. After Yuan Shao's death, Yuan Tan split with his youngest brother Yuan Shang over the successorship to their father's realm. Yuan Tan sought help from the warlord Cao Cao and defeated Yuan Shang. The alliance, however, eventually broke and Yuan Tan was defeated and killed by Cao.

In order to test his sons, Yuan Shao ordered Yuan Tan to leave Ye to station at Pingyuan to oversee the affairs in Qing Province. However, when Yuan Tan arrived Qing Province, the Yuan forces only controlled one city within the province, and Yuan Tan's position was only a commandant. Still, Yuan Tan soon attacked Kong Rong in the east, and expelled Tian Kai in the north to expand his domain in the province. Yuan Tan was quite successful on his expansion, and was welcomed by the common people of Qing Province. Although adept in military, Yuan Tan was inept at civil matters – the officials he picked plundered the countryside and accepted bribery, and the taxes that were collected was below one third of the estimated tax revenue.