This study investigated the changes of antioxidant compounds and antioxidant activity of foxtail millet (FM) and proso millet (PM) by drainage methods in poorly drained sloping paddy field. The experimented soils in this study were very poorly drained (VPDP) and imperfectly drained paddy soil (IDP). Two drainage methods namely under pipe drainage (UPD) and open ditch (ODD) were installed within 1-m position at the lower edge of the upper paddy fields. The soil moisture contents of UPD and ODD on VPDP were 18.52±4.58 and 19.01±4.25%, and IDP were 14.87±4.82 and 18.64±3.85%, respectively. Generally, crop yields, proximate and minerals composition of FM and PM showed significant differences by drainage methods. The total polyphenol, flavonoid and tannin contents, and radical scavenging activity of the ethanolic extracts of FM and PM showed significant differences by drainage methods. The total polyphenol content of FM and PM by drainage methods was 1.69~2.30 and 1.18~1.35 mg GAE/g, total flavonoid content was 0.31~0.76 and 0.27~0.41 mg CE/g, and total tannin content was 0.36~0.54 and 0.21∼0.28 mg TAE/g, respectively. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of FM and PM was 39.53~59.81 and 27.91~40.25 mg TE/100 g, and ABTS radical scavenging activity was 113.59~152.10 and 61.38~79.19 mg TE/100 g, respectively. The antioxidant compounds and radical scavenging activity of FM and PM by drainage methods were frequently affected soil water.