Last Updated on 6 June 2025

The following list is a snapshot of society’s current opinions of the 200 best TV reality shows of all time.

I found 28 different ranked lists online of “best TV reality shows of all time” and pulled them all into Excel and merged them all to get this definitive compilation. See my Methodology page for the research process that was used, including links to the 28 lists that were averaged. Below is a checklist you can print to track which ones you’ve seen, followed by the ranked list.

Best Reality TV Shows – Viewing ChecklistDownload
  1. Survivor (2000-present)
  2. The Amazing Race (2001-present)
  3. RuPaul’s Drag Race (2009-present)
  4. The Real World (1992-present)
  5. The Great British Baking Show (2010-present)
  6. The Real Housewives (2006-present)
  7. Big Brother (2000-present)
  8. Project Runway (2004-present)
  9. The Bachelor (2002-present)
  10. America’s Next Top Model (2003-2018)
  11. Top Chef (2006-present)
  12. American Idol (2002-present)
  13. Keeping Up with the Kardashians (2007-2021)
  14. Queer Eye (2018-present)
  15. The Voice (2011-present)
  16. The Traitors (2023-present)
  17. Shark Tank (2009-present)
  18. 90 Day Fiancé (2014-present)
  19. Love Island (2015-present)
  20. Jersey Shore (2009-2012)
  21. Love Is Blind (2020-present)
  22. The Circle (2020-present)
  23. MasterChef Junior (2013-present)
  24. The Hills (2006-2010)
  25. Selling Sunset (2019-present)
  26. The Bachelorette (2003-present)
  27. Hell’s Kitchen (2005–present)
  28. Catfish: The TV Show (2012-present)
  29. Flavor of Love (2006-2008)
  30. Alone (2015-2025)
  31. Arkadas Canlisi (2022-present)
  32. Boston Med (2010)
  33. Siren: Survive the Island (2023)
  34. The Simple Life (2003-2007)
  35. Love and Hip Hop: New York (2010-2020)
  36. Vanderpump Rules (2013-present)
  37. MasterChef USA (2010-present)
  38. The Mole (2001-2008)
  39. Say Yes to the Dress (2007-present)
  40. The Challenge (1998-present)
  41. Dancing with the Stars (2005-present)
  42. Below Deck (2013-present)
  43. Bachelor in Paradise (2011-present)
  44. Jackass (2000-2007)
  45. The Osbournes (2002-2005)
  46. The Chair (2021)
  47. Project Greenlight (2001-2023)
  48. Intervention (2005–present)
  49. Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (2006-present)
  50. Impractical Jokers (2011-present)
  51. Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles (2006-present)
  52. So You Think You Can Dance (2005-present)
  53. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (2010-present)
  54. Fear Factor (2001-2012)
  55. The Traitors UK (2022-present)
  56. My Super Sweet 16 (2005-2017)
  57. Married at First Sight (2014-present)
  58. Painting with John (2021-2023)
  59. The Office (U.S.) (2005-2013)
  60. Pawn Stars (2009-present)
  61. Wife Swap (2004-2010)
  62. Chopped (2007-present)
  63. MythBusters (2003-2018)
  64. Undercover Boss (2010-present)
  65. Clarkson’s Farm (2021-present)
  66. Physical: 100 (2023-present)
  67. Kitchen Nightmares (2007-2025)
  68. The Real World Homecoming (2021-2022)
  69. Welcome to Wrexham (2022-present)
  70. Too Hot to Handle (2020-present)
  71. Nailed It! (2018-present)
  72. Love Island USA (2019-present)
  73. Love on the Spectrum U.S. (2022-present)
  74. What Would You Do? (2009-present)
  75. Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County (2004-2006)
  76. Taxicab Confessions (1995-2010)
  77. Making the Band (2000-2002)
  78. The Biggest Loser (2004-2020)
  79. Are You Sure?! (2024-present)
  80. Light & Magic (2022-2025)
  81. Dance Moms (2011-2019)
  82. Bands on the Run (2001-present)
  83. Cops (1989-2005)
  84. Little People, Big World (2006-present)
  85. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (2004-present)
  86. NEXT (2005-2008)
  87. Come Dine With Me (2005-present)
  88. Extreme Makeover (2002-2007)
  89. The Apprentice (2004-2017)
  90. True Life (1998-2020)
  91. Hoarders (2009-present)
  92. My Unorthodox Life (2021-2022)
  93. America’s Got Talent (2006-present)
  94. Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares (2004-2014)
  95. Born This Way (2015-2019)
  96. Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show (2024)
  97. Offline Love (2025-present)
  98. Deadliest Catch (2005-present)
  99. Wipeout (2008-2014, 2021-2025)
  100. Bling Empire (2021-2022)
  101. Jon & Kate Plus 8 (2007-2009)
  102. The Masked Singer (2019-present)
  103. Bad Girls Club (2006-2017)
  104. Love After Lockup (2018-present)
  105. The Boyfriend (2024-present)
  106. Are You the One? (2014-present)
  107. Man vs. Wild (2006-2020)
  108. Teen Mom OG (2009–present)
  109. Naked and Afraid (2013-present)
  110. The Kardashians (2022-present)
  111. Dirty Jobs (2005-present)
  112. Antiques Roadshow (1979-present)
  113. Manor House (2002)
  114. Our Great National Parks (2022)
  115. Duck Dynasty (2012-2017)
  116. The Ultimatum: Queer Love (2023-present)
  117. Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica (2003-2005)
  118. Face Off (2011-2018)
  119. Next in Fashion (2020-2023)
  120. Basketball Wives (2010-present)
  121. Circus (2010)
  122. Love on the Spectrum Australia (2019-2021)
  123. The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning (2023-present)
  124. Terrace House (2015-2016)
  125. Here Comes Honey Boo Boo (2012-2017)
  126. Jim Henson’s Creature Shop Challenge (2014)
  127. Jury Duty (2023)
  128. Sister Wives (2010-present)
  129. Black Ink Crew New York (2012-present)
  130. Legendary (2020-2022)
  131. Made (2003-2014)
  132. RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars (2012-present)
  133. The Quest (2014)
  134. We’re Here (2020-2024)
  135. Hotel Hell (2012-2016)
  136. Squid Game: The Challenge (2023-present)
  137. The Real Housewives of Orange County (2006-2022)
  138. House of Villains (2023-present)
  139. The Golden Bachelor (2023-present)
  140. Beat Bobby Flay (2013-present)
  141. Hyperdrive (2019)
  142. Push Girls (2012-2013)
  143. Whale Wars (2008-2020)
  144. Indian Matchmaking (2020-2023)
  145. American Pickers (2010-present)
  146. Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath (2016-2019)
  147. Lenox Hill (2020)
  148. Making a Murderer (2015-2018)
  149. Breaking Pointe (2012-2013)
  150. FBoy Island (2021-2023)
  151. Glow Up: Britain’s Next Make-Up Star (2019-present)
  152. Ghost Adventures (2008-present)
  153. Storage Wars (2010-present)
  154. American Ninja Warrior (2009-present)
  155. Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (2005-2012)
  156. Making It (2018-2021)
  157. Save Our Squad (2022-present)
  158. Summer House (2017-present)
  159. Comic Book Men (2012-2018)
  160. Perfect Match (2023-present)
  161. Fixer Upper (2013-2018)
  162. Punk’d (2020-present)
  163. The Paper (2025-present)
  164. 12 Dates of Christmas (2020-2021)
  165. Welcome to Earth (2021)
  166. Jewish Matchmaking (2023-present)
  167. Pretty Wild (2010)
  168. Road Rules (1995-2007)
  169. Temptation Island (2025-present)
  170. The Glee Project (2011-2012)
  171. Shahs of Sunset (2012-2021)
  172. An Idiot Abroad (2010-2012)
  173. E! True Hollywood Story (1996-present)
  174. Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls (2022-present)
  175. Mob Wives (2011-2016)
  176. All or Nothing: Tottenham Hotspur (2020)
  177. Blind Date (1985-2019)
  178. Car Masters: Rust to Riches (2018-present)
  179. Forged in Fire (2015-present)
  180. The Girls Next Door (2005-2010)
  181. Instant Hotel (2017-present)
  182. Teach: Tony Danza (2010)
  183. Legally Blonde the Musical: The Search for Elle Woods (2008-present)
  184. Say I Do (2020)
  185. The X Factor (2008-2017)
  186. Bug Juice (1998-2002)
  187. Chrisley Knows Best (2014–present)
  188. Kenny vs. Spenny (2002-2010)
  189. The Big Brunch (2022)
  190. Work of Art: The Next Great Artist (2010-2011)
  191. Botched (2014–present)
  192. Finding Magic Mike (2021)
  193. The Moaning of Life (2013-2015)
  194. Trading Spouses: Meet Your New Mommy (2004-2007)
  195. All or Nothing: Manchester City (2018)
  196. America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (2024-present)
  197. Baking Impossible (2021)
  198. Cash Cab (2008-2015)
  199. Paris and Nicole: The Encore (2024)
  200. High School Confidential (2008-2013)

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