The invention relates to the novel cotton variety designated 04Y288. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants, plant parts and derivatives of the cotton variety 04Y288. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the cotton variety 04Y288 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing cotton plants by crossing the cotton variety 04Y288 with itself or another cotton variety and plants produced by such methods.