The 1987–88 Southern Football League season was the 85th in the history of the league, an English football competition.
Aylesbury United won the Premier Division and earned promotion to the Football Conference, whilst Chatham Town, Paget Rangers and Shepshed Charterhouse left the league at the end of the season.
The Premier Division consisted of 22 clubs, including 16 clubs from the previous season and six new clubs:
| Competition: | Southern Football League Premier Division |
| Season: | 1987–88 |
| Winners: | Aylesbury United |
| Promoted: | Aylesbury United |
| Relegated: | Chelmsford City Nuneaton Borough Willenhall Town |
| Matches: | 462 |
| Total Goals: | 1280 |
| Prevseason: | 1986–87 |
| Nextseason: | 1988–89 |
The Midland Division expanded up to 22 clubs, including 17 clubs from the previous season and five new clubs:
| Competition: | Southern Football League Midland Division |
| Season: | 1987–88 |
| Winners: | Merthyr Tydfil |
| Promoted: | Merthyr Tydfil Moor Green |
| Relegated: | Paget Rangers |
| Matches: | 462 |
| Total Goals: | 1455 |
| Prevseason: | 1986–87 |
| Nextseason: | 1988–89 |
The Southern Division expanded up to 21 clubs, including 16 clubs from the previous season and five new clubs:
| Competition: | Southern Football League Southern Division |
| Season: | 1987–88 |
| Winners: | Dover Athletic |
| Promoted: | Dover Athletic Waterlooville |
| Relegated: | Chatham Town |
| Matches: | 420 |
| Total Goals: | 1221 |
| Prevseason: | 1986–87 |
| Nextseason: | 1988–89 |