<p>Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), comprising both conventional and emerging species, are critical air pollutants that pose severe threats to human health and ecosystems. Catalytic oxidation has emerged as a highly promising strategy for VOC abatement due to its high efficiency, low energy consumption, and minimal secondary pollution. Recently, platinum single-atom catalysts supported on metal oxides (Pt SACs/MOs) have garnered significant attention for VOC oxidation owing to their exceptional catalytic performance. Common metal oxide supports include titania, manganese oxides, iron oxides, tin dioxide, and alumina. Despite extensive research on these materials, a comprehensive review systematically detailing their synthesis strategies, characterization techniques, reaction mechanisms, and practical applications remains lacking. To address this gap, in this review, the current research progress in the catalytic oxidation of VOC over Pt SACs/MOs is summarized from four aspects: mechanisms, preparation methods, characterization techniques, and applications. The reaction mechanisms of VOC oxidation over Pt SACs/MOs are elucidated. The catalytic performance of Pt SACs/MOs for VOC oxidation is evaluated. The effects of key parameters (Pt loading, reaction temperature, relative humidity, and WHSV) on VOC oxidation and the stability of Pt SACs/MOs are discussed. The role of density functional theory (DFT) calculations in VOC oxidation over Pt SACs/MOs is introduced. Finally, the challenges and future prospects in this field are proposed, aiming to provide insights for the rational design of novel high-performance Pt SACs/MOs and the corresponding reactor systems.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>