The men's hammer throw event was part of the track and field athletics programme at the 1936 Summer Olympics.

The United States' eight-Games medal streak in the hammer throw was snapped, with the Americans' best result being William Rowe's fifth place.

One of the six finalists from the 1932 Games returned: silver medalist Ville Pörhölä of Finland, who had also won the shot put in 1920.

In qualifying, each athlete received three attempts; those recording a mark of at least 46.00 metres advanced to the final.

Erwin Blask set a new Olympic record with 55.04 metres in his second throw of the final.