This article details the qualifying phase for badminton at the 2016 Summer Olympics. The Olympic qualification period takes place between May 4, 2015 and May 1, 2016, and the Badminton World Federation rankings list, scheduled to publish on May 5, 2016, will be used to allocate spots. Unlike the previous Games, nations could only enter a maximum of two players each in the men's and women's singles, if both are ranked in the world's top 16; otherwise, one quota place until the roster of thirty-eight players has been completed. Similar regulations in the singles tournaments also apply to the players competing in the doubles, as the NOCs could only enter a maximum of two pairs if both are ranked in the top eight, while the remaining NOCs are entitled to one until the quota of 16 highest-ranke