
RuPaul’s Drag Race first hit TV screens in 2009. A total of 15 main seasons and over 150 racers later, the show has raised a whole generation of audiences with an appreciation for charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent.
These audiences know a sickening look from a booger and always have time for a good read or some piping hot tea. Plus, they know that not all seasons are created equal across Drag Race’s ever-expanding herstory.
A quick note on the methodology: IMDb, which provides weighted averages of user ratings on each show and episode, doesn’t provide ratings by the season. But with some mathematics and a semi-chaotic spreadsheet, here are the 5 best RuPaul’s Drag Race main seasons.

Season 6 (2014)
Average rating: 8.32
There are several reasons why many fans consider Season 6 to be the best one ever.
It gave us the show’s highest-rated Snatch Game (featuring Bianca Del Rio’s Judge Judy, Adore Delano’s Anna Nicole Smith, and BenDeLaCreme’s Maggie Smith); unforgettable quotes and an infamous meltdown from Laganja Estranja, and a legendary lip sync assassin in Trinity K. Bonet.

The season also has some of the most iconic looks of the franchise, including Courtney Act’s Animal Kingdom Couture wings and Vivacious’ hilarious Ornacia.
But perhaps best of all is the fact that the final three queens of this season comprise arguably the strongest-ever batch of finalists — and watching (or rewatching) them get to the finish line is always a delightful treat.
Season 5 (2013)
Average rating: 8.18
Half of the racers in 2016’s All Stars Season 2 came from Season 5 of the main show — and for good reason.

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RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 5 introduced some of the biggest and most talented personalities the franchise has ever seen, all with their own unique take on drag and a fierce drive to take the crown. It gave us Alaska’s Lady Bunny and Jinkx Monsoon’s Little Edie, which both belong in the Snatch Game Hall of Fame and some messy, messy drama between Coco Montrese and Alyssa Edwards.

I also still haven’t forgotten the gasp I gusped at Season 5’s double sashay (the show’s first-ever double elimination) and the relief I felt at its double shantay. But most unforgettable — and rewarding — is the payoff for the underdog of the season.
Season 9 (2017)
Average rating: 8.11
RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 9 was home to some of the best queens. It’s the season that gave us Sasha Velour’s uniquely indomitable drag, Shea Couleé’s undeniable excellence, and Aja’s delicious, delicious drama.
It also gave us the now iconic Untucked line that is now tattooed in my brain.

Season 9 is truly one of the best seasons of Drag Race in its more modern, mainstream era. It also helps that the final episode introduced a new Lip Sync Smackdown format, with a jaw-dropping rosy reveal to end what is the show’s highest-rated finale episode by far.
Season 14 (2022)
Average rating: 8.04
Season 14 was, impressively, a season of many firsts.
It gave us the new Chocolate Bar Twist, which provided an added layer of suspense each episode; the show’s first cis-het male contestant in Maddy Morphosis; and a record number of five transgender drag racers in Kerry Colby, Kornbread “The Snack” Jeté, Jasmine Kennedie, Bosco, and Willow Pill.
It also featured a final five in its grand finale, with a winner that received $150,000. The season winner was also a first herself, but we’ll stop there to avoid dishing out major spoilers.

The season’s werk room was also joyfully chaotic, with Daya Betty even eating a dragonfly off the floor at Kornbread’s promise of $1,000. Overall, Season 14 showed us that even as RuPaul’s Drag Race matures under the mainstream spotlight, it’s still reinventing the game we know and love.
Season 4 (2012)
Average rating: 8.01
2012 was the year RuPaul’s Drag Race really started to take off, and it’s very much thanks to a strong Season 4. This batch of racers gave us a dynamic season — from some truly post-apocalyptic couture to plenty of gag-worthy moments.
Highlights include the absolute tour de force of a lip sync to “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” by Dida Ritz of the House of Hall, as well as Willam’s rebellious streak.

But perhaps the brightest of all highlights is the legendary feud between Sharon Needles and Phi Phi O’Hara. It not only brought about some thoughtful conversations on what drag is, but it also gave us one of the best Drag Race rivalries in herstory.
Honorable Mentions
Because it’s so hard to choose (and because I have my personal favorites), here are two Drag Race seasons that didn’t quite rate so high on IMDb, but deserve a spot on your must-watch list, too.
Season 3
Average rating: 7.69

Season 3 is where RuPaul’s Drag Race really finds its footing as a reality TV show. It was the first to bring back an eliminated queen from a previous season and gave us one of the best and most bitter clique rivalries in the franchise: the Heathers and the Boogers.
Standout queens of this season include Raja, Manila Luzon, Shangela, and Alexis Mateo.
Season 7
Average rating: 7.66

A lot of fans say that Season 7 is the show’s worst, but that’s not really true, I think. Aside from being a long-time Season 7 apologist, I also did the math — and the worst-rated RuPaul’s Drag Race season is actually Season 13.
Season 7 gave us some of the funniest and most iconic queens, like Trixie Mattel, Katya Zamolodchikova, Ginger Minj, and Jasmine Masters.
FAQs
What Is the Best Season of RuPaul’s Drag Race to Start With?
Many fans recommend starting with Season 6, the strongest entry on this list, as it offers a great introduction to the show format and a truly wonderful cast. The Untucked episodes for Season 6 are especially enjoyable, but best of all is Season 6’s Snatch Game, which is tied with Season 9’s finale for the show’s highest-rated episode.
Season 4 is also a good choice, as it has plenty of great conversations about the past, present, and future of drag. If you’d like to start with just as much talent but a little less drama, then Season 8 is a great starting point, too.
Where Can I Watch All Seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race?
Trying to stream RuPaul’s Drag Race can be trickier than lip-syncing for your life. That’s because even though most seasons are available on most streaming platforms, no platform has every single season, so you’re going to move around a little.
Here’s where to watch all seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race:
- Seasons 1-3: Paramount+ and VOD
- Seasons 4-9: Paramount+, Hulu, and VOD
- Seasons 10-13: Paramount+ and VOD
- Season 14: MTV and VOD
- Season 15: Paramount+ and Philo
Will There Be a Season 16 of RuPaul’s Drag Race?
Yes. World of Wonder, the production company behind RuPaul’s Drag Race, announced the show’s 16th Season on October 31, 2022. Casting ended on January 6, 2023, with filming rumored to have begun last May.
These incarnations make me extremely excited.
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