The men's 100 metre backstroke event at the 1948 Olympic Games took place between August 4 and 6, at the Empire Pool. This swimming event used the backstroke. Because an Olympic-size swimming pool is 50 metres long, this race consisted of two lengths of the pool.
The fastest two in each heat and the four fastest third-placed from across the heats advanced.
Heat 1
Heat 2
Heat 3
Heat 4
Heat 5
Heat 6
The fastest three in each semi-final and the fastest from across the semi-finals advanced.
Semifinal 1
Semifinal 2
Key: Q = qualification by place in heat, q = qualification by overall place