The men's shot put event at the 1988 World Junior Championships in Athletics was held in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, at Laurentian University Stadium on 29 and 30 July. A 7257g (Senior implement) shot was used.
| Gold | Aleksandr Klimenko | |
| Silver | Mike Stulce | |
| Bronze | Aleksandr Klimov |
30 July
| Rank | Name | Nationality | Attempts | Result | Notes | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ||||||||
| align=left | align=left | 17.32 | 18.33 | 13.30 | 17.33 | 18.17 | 18.92 | 18.92 | |||||
| align=left | align=left | | 17.89 | 17.70 | x | 18.47 | 17.77 | x | 18.47 | ||||
| align=left | align=left | 18.06 | 17.90 | x | 17.58 | 17.59 | 17.67 | 18.06 | |||||
| 4 | align=left | align=left | | 17.10 | 16.93 | 16.72 | 17.50 | x | 16.92 | 17.50 | |||
| 5 | align=left | align=left | 16.87 | 17.11 | 16.51 | 17.04 | x | x | 17.11 | ||||
| 6 | align=left | align=left | x | 15.65 | 16.84 | 16.36 | 16.91 | 16.76 | 16.91 | ||||
| 7 | align=left | align=left |  | 16.17 | 16.78 | 16.77 | x | x | x | 16.78 | |||
| 8 | align=left | align=left |  | 16.66 | 16.75 | x | x | 16.24 | 16.20 | 16.75 | |||
| 9 | align=left | align=left |  | 16.64 | 16.68 | 15.89 | 16.68 | ||||||
| 10 | align=left | align=left |  | 16.59 | 16.13 | 16.22 | 16.59 | ||||||
| 11 | align=left | align=left |  | x | 16.00 | 16.34 | 16.34 | ||||||
| 12 | align=left | align=left |  | 15.86 | 15.60 | 15.77 | 15.86 | ||||||
29 Jul
| Rank | Name | Nationality | Attempts | Result | Notes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||
| 1 | align=left | align=left | | 18.55 | - | - | 18.55 | Q | ||
| 2 | align=left | align=left | 17.83 | - | - | 17.83 | Q | |||
| 3 | align=left | align=left | 17.14 | - | - | 17.14 | Q | |||
| 4 | align=left | align=left | 16.78 | - | - | 16.78 | Q | |||
| 5 | align=left | align=left | | 16.74 | - | - | 16.74 | Q | ||
| 6 | align=left | align=left | | 16.65 | - | - | 16.65 | Q | ||
| 7 | align=left | align=left | | 16.40 | - | - | 16.40 | Q | ||
| 8 | align=left | align=left | | 16.39 | - | - | 16.39 | Q | ||
| 9 | align=left | align=left | | 16.24 | - | - | 16.24 | Q | ||
| 10 | align=left | align=left | | x | 15.74 | 16.23 | 16.23 | Q | ||
| 11 | align=left | align=left | | 15.56 | x | 16.16 | 16.16 | Q | ||
| 12 | align=left | align=left | 16.13 | - | - | 16.13 | Q | |||
| 13 | align=left | align=left |  | 15.83 | 15.93 | x | 15.93 | |||
| 14 | align=left | align=left |  | 15.55 | 15.78 | 15.57 | 15.78 | |||
| 15 | align=left | align=left | 14.76 | 14.69 | 14.98 | 14.98 | ||||
| 16 | align=left | align=left | 14.73 | x | 14.36 | 14.73 | ||||
| 17 | align=left | align=left |  | 14.25 | 14.49 | 14.57 | 14.57 | |||
According to an unofficial count, 17 athletes from 15 countries participated in the event.