Michael Chang defeated Paul Haarhuis in the final, 7–5, 6–1, 6–1 to win the men's singles tennis title at the 1996 Indian Wells Masters.

Pete Sampras was the two-time defending champion, but lost in the quarterfinals to Haarhuis.^[1]

The top eight seeds received a bye to the second round.

	Quarterfinals							Semifinals							Final
	1	Pete Sampras	5	77	1
		Paul Haarhuis	7	65	6
									Paul Haarhuis	6	77
								6	Goran Ivanišević	2	66
		Carlos Costa	4	4
	6	Goran Ivanišević	6	6
																Paul Haarhuis	5	1	1
															5	Michael Chang	7	6	6
	5	Michael Chang	63	6	6
	3	Andre Agassi	77	2	1
								5	Michael Chang	78	6
									Marcelo Ríos	66	3
	9	Wayne Ferreira	5	5
		Marcelo Ríos	7	7

	First round							Second round							Third round							Quarterfinals
								1	P Sampras	w/o
		P Korda	6	5	4				À Corretja
		À Corretja	3	7	6										1	P Sampras	6	6
		J Björkman	6	6											Q	M Joyce	3	4
	WC	G Forget	3	4					J Björkman	3	4
	Q	M Joyce	6	6				Q	M Joyce	6	6
	16	G Schaller	3	4																		1	P Sampras	5	77	1
	10	M Rosset	6	1	2																		P Haarhuis	7	65	6
		R Furlan	2	6	6				R Furlan	77	3	6
		A Gaudenzi	6	6					A Gaudenzi	65	6	2
	Q	G Stafford	3	3												R Furlan	3	4
	Q	D Nargiso	77	2	5											P Haarhuis	6	6
		P Haarhuis	65	6	7				P Haarhuis	6	6
								8	T Enqvist	4	2

	First round							Second round							Third round							Quarterfinals
								4/WC	B Becker	3	5
	Q	A O'Brien	65	6	5				C Costa	6	7
		C Costa	77	1	7											C Costa	6	4	6
		M Larsson	2	4											13	A Costa	3	6	4
		J Hlasek	6	6					J Hlasek	5	2
	WC	C Mamiit	2	4				13	A Costa	7	6
	13	A Costa	6	6																			C Costa	4	4
	11	A Medvedev	3	6	5																	6	G Ivanišević	6	6
		J Burillo	6	4	7				J Burillo	1	6	7
		G Rusedski	6	4	4				B Karbacher	6	1	5
		B Karbacher	3	6	6											J Burillo	4	5
		J Frana	65	2											6	G Ivanišević	6	7
		B Black	77	6					B Black	1	3
								6	G Ivanišević	6	6

	First round							Second round							Third round							Quarterfinals
								5	M Chang	4	6	6
		S Edberg	6	6					S Edberg	6	3	1
		J Novák	1	2											5	M Chang	6	6
	Q	D Nestor	77	6											12	A Boetsch	1	3
		B Steven	62	4				Q	D Nestor	4	3
		Y El Aynaoui	3	1r				12	A Boetsch	6	6
	12	A Boetsch	6	4																		5	M Chang	63	6	6
	14	T Martin	6	6																		3	A Agassi	77	2	1
	WC	J Stoltenberg	3	2				14	T Martin	6	6
		J Sánchez	78	2	2				M Woodforde	4	3
		M Woodforde	66	6	6										14	T Martin	69	6	61
		S Schalken	77	6											3	A Agassi	711	2	77
	Q	N Lapentti	64	3					S Schalken	1	6	3
								3	A Agassi	6	4	6

	First round							Second round							Third round							Quarterfinals
								7	J Courier	6	6
		T Woodbridge	7	6					T Woodbridge	3	3
		A Berasategui	5	1											7	J Courier	4	4
		F Clavet	3	0											9	W Ferreira	6	6
		M Philippoussis	6	6					M Philippoussis	6	64	65
		H Gumy	77	5	3			9	W Ferreira	2	77	77
	9	W Ferreira	61	7	6																	9	W Ferreira	5	5
	15	M Washington	3	5																			M Ríos	7	7
	Q	J Stark	6	7				Q	J Stark	63	1
		M Ríos	77	6					M Ríos	77	6
	WC	M Knowles	64	3												M Ríos	6	4
		M Wilander	3	69												A Voinea	3	1r
		A Voinea	6	711					A Voinea	6	7
								2	T Muster	3	5

• 1996 Newsweek Champions Cup draw