The Hovedserien 1948/49 was the fifth season of the highest Norwegian football league and the first season under the name Hovedserien . The season began on August 1, 1948 and ended with the second final game on June 12, 1949.
The 16 teams played against each other in two groups, each with eight teams, in a simple game round with a return game, so that each team played 14 games. The two last placed had to be relegated.
The champion was determined in two finals between the two group winners. Here sat Fredrikstad FK in both games against Vålerengens IF by and was the third time Norwegian champion.