The Cd1-xMnxTe(0 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.82) single crystals were grown by the vertical Bridgman method. The Vickers hardnesses of the grown crystals were measured as a function of Mn composition and temperature for the first time. The activation energy was determined for the dislocation motion from the relation between temperature and hardness, and it was decreased as increasing x in Cd1-xMnxTe single crystals. Also, the Vickers hardness H-V was decreased as increasing temperature and increased as Mn composition x. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.