Condensed tannins (CT), a polyphenolic of various forages, reportedly binds with dietary protein in the rumen and may affect site of nitrogen excretion in beef cattle. To evaluate the effect of CT on N excretion, a commercially available condensed tannin extract was top-dressed on a cereal grain-based diet at 3 levels (0, 1, or 2% of diet, DM basis). Nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance were measured in British-cross steers (n = 18; BW = 374 ± 34 kg) offered ad libitum access to the basal diet (15.6% CP). Due to a limited number of metabolism crates, steers were randomly assigned to 3 groups first and then assigned to treatments within group. Steers were offered treatments for 10 d (7 d in individual stalls and 3 d in metabolism crates), followed by 4 d for total fecal and urine collections in metabolism crates. No group by treatment interactions was detected (P ≥ 0.18) among the response variables. Provision of CT did not affect (P ≥ 0.56) OM intake or apparent total-tract OM digestion. Similarly, NDF intake and apparent total-tract NDF digestion were not different (P ≥ 0.52) among treatments. Nitrogen intake was not affected (P = 0.58) by inclusion of CT in the diet, but fecal N output increased (P = 0.02) at 2% CT inclusion compared with control. However, there was no difference (P = 0.36) in urine N output among treatments. Nitrogen retention was lesser (P = 0.03) with 2% CT than 0 or 1% CT. Proportion of total N excreted in urine decreased (P = 0.03) with CT supplementation at 1 or 2% in the diet. Similarly the proportion of total N excreted in feces increased (P = 0.03) with 1 or 2% CT inclusion. Under the conditions of this experiment, site of N excretion was shifted away from urine and toward feces when CT was included in a complete diet fed to beef cattle. Further work is needed to investigate possible effects of CT on N emissions from concentrated animal feeding operations.