In order to clarify the elfeet of different influencing factors on runoff and sediment yield, an experiment of artificial rainfall was carried out with waste tailing soil. The effect of vegetation coverage (0, 40%, 80%, 100%), rain intensity (20, 60, 100, 220 mm/h), and slope (15°, 30°) on the initial runoff time of tailing slopes and their correlation with runoff and sediment yield were analyzed. The results show that the correlation degree of these three factors with sediment yield and runoff rate is consistent. When these three factors act together, the order of influence degree is rain intensity, slope and vegetation coverage. The initial runoff time is negatively correlated with rain intensity and slope, and positively correlated with vegetation coverage. The correlation of three factors with the initial runoff time is extremely significant. The increase of vegetation coverage has a positive effect on the delay of runoff time.