1988

The following is a list of the number-one singles (main sides only) in the U.S. in 1988, based on a comparison between its two main charts at the time, from Billboard and Cash Box magazines.
Issue date 	Song 	Artist(s)
January 2 	"Faith" 	George Michael
January 9 	"Faith" 	George Michael
January 16 	"Got My Mind Set on You" 	George Harrison
January 23 	"The Way You Make Me Feel" 	Michael Jackson
January 30 	"Need You Tonight" 	INXS
February 6 	"Could've Been" 	Tiffany
February 13 	"Could've Been" 	Tiffany
February 20 	"Seasons Change" 	Exposé
February 27 	"Father Figure" 	George Michael
March 5 	"Father Figure" 	George Michael
March 12 	"Father Figure" 	George Michael
March 19 	"Never Gonna Give You Up" 	Rick Astley
March 26 	"Man in the Mirror" 	Michael Jackson
April 2 	"Man in the Mirror" 	Michael Jackson
April 9 	"Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car" 	Billy Ocean
April 16 	"Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car" 	Billy Ocean
April 23 	"Where Do Broken Hearts Go" 	Whitney Houston
April 30 	"Where Do Broken Hearts Go" 	Whitney Houston
May 7 	"Wishing Well" 	Terence Trent D'Arby
May 14 	"Anything for You" 	Miami Sound Machine
May 21 	"Anything for You" 	Miami Sound Machine
May 28 	"One More Try" 	George Michael
June 4 	"One More Try" 	George Michael
June 11 	"One More Try" 	George Michael
June 18 	"Together Forever" 	Rick Astley
June 25 	"Foolish Beat" 	Debbie Gibson
July 2 	"Dirty Diana" 	Michael Jackson
July 9 	"The Flame" 	Cheap Trick
July 16 	"The Flame" 	Cheap Trick
July 23 	"Pour Some Sugar on Me" 	Def Leppard
July 30 	"Roll with It" 	Steve Winwood
August 6 	"Roll with It" 	Steve Winwood
August 13 	"Roll with It" 	Steve Winwood
August 20 	"Roll with It" 	Steve Winwood
August 27 	"Monkey" 	George Michael
September 3 	"Monkey" 	George Michael
September 10	"Sweet Child o' Mine" 	Guns N' Roses
September 17	"Sweet Child o' Mine" 	Guns N' Roses
September 24	"Sweet Child o' Mine" 	Guns N' Roses
October 1 	"Don't Worry, Be Happy" 	Bobby McFerrin
October 8 	"Love Bites" 	Def Leppard
October 15 	"Red Red Wine" 	UB40
October 22 	"A Groovy Kind of Love" 	Phil Collins
October 29 	"A Groovy Kind of Love" 	Phil Collins
November 5 	"Kokomo" 	The Beach Boys
November 12 	"Wild, Wild West" 	The Escape Club
November 19 	"Bad Medicine" 	Bon Jovi
November 26 	"Bad Medicine" 	Bon Jovi
December 3 	"Baby, I Love Your Way/Freebird Medley"	Will to Power
December 10 	"Look Away" 	Chicago
December 17 	"Look Away" 	Chicago
December 24 	"Every Rose Has Its Thorn" 	Poison
December 31 	"Every Rose Has Its Thorn" 	Poison