The men's single sculls competition at the 1948 Summer Olympics took place at Henley-on-Thames, London, United Kingdom.

Italy received its first men's single sculls medal with Romolo Catasta's bronze.

The United States had its five-Games podium streak in the event ended, as John B. Kelly Jr. lost his semifinal by 0.4 seconds and did not advance to the final.

[2] None of the 20 single scullers from the pre-war 1936 Games returned, though Australia's Mervyn Wood had been on the eight team.

The three post-war Diamond Challenge Sculls champions were all competing: Wood (1948) was the reigning winner, with Jean Séphériadès of France (1946) and John B. Kelly Jr. of the United States (1947) the previous title holders.