Olavi Ruitlane (born July 1, 1969 in Tartu) is an Estonian writer.

He was born in a family of workers from Võru County. At the age of two months, he was taken to live in the city of Võru. The father is from Metstaga, Varstu municipality, the mother is from Võru.

Ruitlane graduated from Võru I 8th grade school and attended Võru Industrial Technical College for three years. Graduated from Võru Distance Learning High School. Ruitlane has been a construction painter, a lathe operator, a driver, a boiler operator, a guard, a workshop foreman, a supplier, a screamer, a security guard, etc.