These are the Billboard Hot 100 number one hits of 1961. That year, 16 acts achieved their first number one song, such as Bert Kaempfert, The Shirelles, Lawrence Welk, The Marcels, Del Shannon, Ernie K-Doe, Roy Orbison, Gary U.S. Bonds, Bobby Lewis, Joe Dowell, The Highwaymen, Bobby Vee, Dion, Jimmy Dean, The Marvelettes, and The Tokens.

This is a list of singles that have peaked in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 during 1961. Elvis Presley scored six top ten hits during the year with "Surrender", "I Feel So Bad", "Little Sister", "(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame", "Are You Lonesome Tonight?", and "Can't Help Falling in Love", the most among all other artists.