The 1887 New South Wales colonial election was for 124 members representing 74 electoral districts. The election was conducted on the basis of a simple majority or first-past-the-post voting system. In this election there were 35 multi-member districts returning 87 members and 37 single member districts giving a total of 124 members. In the multi-member districts each elector could vote for as many candidates as there were vacancies. 13 districts were uncontested. This was the first election at which there were recognisable political parties. The average number of enrolled voters per seat was 1,984, ranging from Boorowa (1,103) to Canterbury (3,161).
<noinclude>The other sitting member John Cramsie did not contest the election.</noinclude>
<noinclude>The other sitting member Patrick Jennings did not contest the election.</noinclude>
<noinclude>The sitting members were Russell Barton and William Sawers, both of whom resigned on 2 December 1886. A writ was issued for a by-election, which was held on 21 January 1887, with the result Thomas Waddell 1019, William Willis 833 and Alexander Wilson 682. The writ was not returned however as the parliament was dissolved on 26 January. </noinclude>
<noinclude>Three of the sitting members, Mark Hammond, William Judd and Septimus Stephen, did not contest the election.</noinclude>
<noinclude>The other sitting member Ezekiel Baker did not contest the election.</noinclude>
<noinclude>The other sitting member </noinclude>John Shepherd unsuccessfully contested Paddington.
The two other sitting members Edmund Barton was appointed to the Legislative Council and Henry Copeland successfully contested New England.
<noinclude>The other sitting member Walter Coonan did not contest the election.</noinclude>
The sitting member William Fergusson unsuccessfully contested Wentworth.
<noinclude>The sitting member Robert White did not contest the election. </noinclude>John McLaughlin had been unsuccessful in contesting Paddington on 9 February.
The sitting member Joseph Abbott successfully contested Wentworth.
The sitting member Walter Targett unsuccessfully contested The Hastings and Manning.
Walter Targett was the member for Hartley
<noinclude>The sitting member Robert Wisdom did not contest the election.</noinclude>
<noinclude>The other sitting member </noinclude>Thomas Browne unsuccessfully contested Wentworth.
<noinclude>The other sitting member Alexander Bolton did not contest the election.</noinclude>
<noinclude>The sitting member Charles Collins did not contest the election.</noinclude>
| colspan="3" | | colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | (1 new seat)
<noinclude>The other sitting member Robert Butcher did not contest the election. </noinclude>John Shepherd was the member for East Macquarie. John McLaughlin also unsuccessfully contested Gloucester.
| colspan="3" | | colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | (1 new seat)
<noinclude>The other sitting member Thomas Williamson did not contest the election.</noinclude>
<noinclude>The other sitting member Patrick Hogan did not contest the election.</noinclude>
<noinclude>The sitting member Frederick Humphery did not contest the election.</noinclude>
<noinclude>The other sitting member Joseph Olliffe did not contest the election.</noinclude>
<noinclude>The other sitting member Michael Burke did not contest the election.</noinclude>
William MacGregor one of two sitting members for Wentworth. The other sitting member Edward Quin did not contest the election. Joseph Abbott was the member for Gunnedah, Thomas Browne was the member for Mudgee and William Fergusson was the member for Glen Innes.
<noinclude>The sitting member Lewis Lloyd did not contest the election.</noinclude>