Top Chef (Bravo): Ratings Recap

Bravo's 'Top Chef' premiered March 8, 2006 to a 0.7 adults 18-49 rating and 1.3 million viewers, fell hard in its second week, but ended up growing its audience up to 1.5 million by its first season finale. the show grew its ratings in each of the next 4 seasons, reaching its peak in its fifth season (2008-09) where it averaged over 3 million viewers per episode. It steadily declined over the next several seasons before finally falling below 1 million viewers on-average for the first time in season 12 (2014-15). Over the next 6 seasons, its ratings remained incredibly steady at between 800K-1M viewers, but it dipped to its lowest numbers yet in 2022's season 19 where it pulled 725,000. It has been renewed for a 20th season which is expected to air in 2023.

Top Chef Season 1 Ratings (2006)
Episode Date	Viewers (millions)	18-49 rating
Mar. 8, 2006	1.285	0.7
Mar. 15, 2006	0.701	0.4
Mar. 22, 2006	0.720	0.4
Mar. 29, 2006	0.860	0.5
Apr. 5, 2006	0.995	0.5
Apr. 12, 2006	1.084	0.5
Apr. 19, 2006	1.245	0.7
Apr. 26, 2006	1.332	0.7
May 3, 2006	1.678	0.9
May 10, 2006	1.092	0.6
May 17, 2006	1.452	0.8
May 24, 2006	1.515	0.8
Average	1.163	0.37

Top Chef Season 2 Ratings (2006-07)
Episode Date	Viewers (millions)	18-49 rating
Oct. 18, 2006	1.872	1.0
Oct. 25, 2006	1.277	0.7
Nov. 1, 2006	1.368	0.7
Nov. 8, 2006	1.672	0.9
Nov. 15, 2006	1.712	1.0
Nov. 22, 2006	1.633	0.8
Dec. 6, 2006	1.757	0.9
Dec. 13, 2006	1.631	0.9
Jan. 3, 2007	2.214	1.2
Jan. 10, 2007	2.637	1.4
Jan. 17, 2007	2.810	1.6
Jan. 24, 2007	2.602	1.5
Jan. 31, 2007	3.896	2.2
Average	2.083	1.14

Top Chef Season 3 Ratings (2007)
Episode Date	Viewers (millions)	18-49 rating
Jun. 6, 2007	1.315	0.6
Jun. 13, 2007	2.024	1.1
Jun. 20, 2007	1.985	1.0
Jun. 27, 2007	1.973	0.9
Jul. 11, 2007	2.063	1.0
Jul. 18, 2007	2.082	1.0
Jul. 25, 2007	1.381	0.7
Aug. 1, 2007	2.053	1.0
Aug. 8, 2007	2.055	1.1
Aug. 15, 2007	2.269	1.2
Aug. 22, 2007	2.415	1.2
Sept. 5, 2007	1.990	1.0
Sept. 12, 2007	2.311	1.1
Sept. 19, 2007	2.238	1.2
Sept. 26, 2007	2.124	1.1
Oct. 3, 2007	3.079	1.7
Oct. 10, 2007	1.142	0.6
Average*	2.136	1.09

*first and last episode specials excluded from season average

Top Chef Holiday Special Ratings (2007)
Episode Date	Viewers (millions)	18-49 rating
Dec. 6, 2007	0.760	0.4

Top Chef Season 4 Ratings (2008)
Episode Date	Viewers (millions)	18-49 rating
Mar. 12, 2008	2.256	1.1
Mar. 19, 2008	2.168	1.1
Mar. 26, 2008	2.413	1.3
Apr. 2, 2008	2.297	1.2
Apr. 9, 2008	2.096	1.1
Apr. 16, 2008	2.584	1.4
Apr. 23, 2008	2.398	1.4
Apr. 30, 2008	2.417	1.2
May 7, 2008	2.698	1.6
May 14, 2008	2.661	1.4
May 21, 2008	2.483	1.3
May 28, 2008	2.690	1.5
Jun. 4, 2008	2.882	1.7
Jun. 11, 2008	3.540	2.0
Jun. 18, 2008	1.729	0.9
Average**	2.542	1.38

Top Chef Season 5 Ratings (2008-09)
Episode Date	Viewers (millions)	18-49 rating
Nov. 12, 2008	2.695	1.4
Nov. 19, 2008	2.569	1.4
Nov. 26, 2008	2.031	1.0
Dec. 3, 2008	2.847	1.5
Dec. 10, 2008	3.021	1.7
Dec. 17, 2008	3.125	1.6
Jan. 7, 2009	2.933	1.6
Jan. 14, 2009	3.172	1.7
Jan. 21, 2009	2.679	1.5
Jan. 28, 2009	3.216	1.7
Feb. 4, 2009	3.234	1.8
Feb. 11, 2009	3.271	1.8
Feb. 18, 2009	3.627	1.9
Feb. 25, 2009	3.743	2.1
Mar. 4, 2009	1.904	1.0
Average**	3.012	1.62

Top Chef Season 6 Ratings (2009)
Episode Date	Viewers (millions)	18-49 rating
Aug. 19, 2009	2.592	1.3
Aug. 26, 2009	2.769	1.5
Sept. 2, 2009	2.853	1.5
Sept. 9, 2009	2.792	1.4
Sept. 16, 2009	2.670	1.4
Sept. 23, 2009	2.844	1.5
Oct. 7, 2009	2.763	1.5
Oct. 14, 2009	2.668	1.4
Oct. 21, 2009	2.858	1.5
Oct. 28, 2009	3.043	1.7
Nov. 4, 2009	1.714	0.9
Nov. 11, 2009	3.020	1.7
Nov. 18, 2009	2.813	1.5
Dec. 2, 2009	3.000	1.5
Dec. 9, 2009	3.492	1.8
Dec. 16, 2009	1.347	0.6
Average**	2.793	1.47

Top Chef Season 7 Ratings (2010)
Episode Date	Viewers (millions)	18-49 rating
Jun. 16, 2010	1.834	0.9
Jun. 23, 2010	2.196	1.1
Jun. 30, 2010	2.206	1.1
Jul. 7, 2010	2.584	1.2
Jul. 14, 2010	2.378	1.2
Jul. 21, 2010	2.072	1.1
Jul. 28, 2010	2.402	1.3
Aug. 4, 2010	2.462	1.2
Aug. 11, 2010	2.483	1.2
Aug. 18, 2010	2.570	1.2
Aug. 25, 2010	2.591	1.2
Sept. 1, 2010	2.568	1.3
Sept. 8, 2010	2.898	1.4
Sept. 15, 2010	2.695	1.4
Sept. 22, 2010	1.478	0.7
Average**	2.424	1.20

Top Chef Season 8 Ratings (2010-11)
Episode Date	Viewers (millions)	18-49 rating
Dec. 1, 2010	1.659	0.8
Dec. 8, 2010	2.030	1.0
Dec. 15, 2010	1.978	1.1
Dec. 22, 2010	2.116	1.0
Jan. 5, 2011	2.464	1.3
Jan. 12, 2011	2.363	1.3
Jan. 19, 2011	2.334	1.2
Feb. 2, 2011	2.343	1.3
Feb. 9, 2011	2.231	1.2
Feb. 16, 2011	2.351	1.3
Feb. 23, 2011	2.610	1.4
Mar. 2, 2011	2.482	1.3
Mar. 9, 2011	2.439	1.2
Mar. 16, 2011	2.256	1.2
Mar. 23, 2011	2.376	1.3
Mar. 30, 2011	2.774	1.5
Apr. 6, 2011	1.678	0.9
Average**	2.300	1.21

Top Chef Season 9 Ratings (2011-12)
Episode Date	Viewers (millions)	18-49 rating
Nov. 2, 2011	1.585	0.8
Nov. 9, 2011	1.637	0.8
Nov. 16, 2011	1.453	0.7
Nov. 23, 2011	1.671	0.7
Nov. 30, 2011	0.826	0.4
Dec. 7, 2011	1.695	0.8
Dec. 14, 2011	1.744	0.9
Dec. 21, 2011	1.688	0.8
Jan. 4, 2012	1.936	0.9
Jan. 11, 2012	1.820	1.0
Jan. 18, 2012	1.995	1.0
Jan. 25, 2012	1.831	0.9
Feb. 1, 2012	2.010	1.0
Feb. 8, 2012	2.024	1.0
Feb. 15, 2012	1.743	0.9
Feb. 22, 2012	1.786	0.9
Feb. 29, 2012	1.848	1.0
Mar. 7, 2012	1.039	0.5
Average**	1.723	0.85

Top Chef Season 10 Ratings (2012-13)
Episode Date	Viewers (millions)	18-49 rating
Nov. 7, 2012	0.912	0.4
Nov. 14, 2012	0.941	0.4
Nov. 21, 2012	1.045	0.4
Nov. 28, 2012	1.115	0.5
Dec. 5, 2012	1.405	0.6
Dec. 12, 2012	1.287	0.5
Dec. 19, 2012	1.458	0.6
Dec. 26, 2012	1.562	0.7
Jan. 2, 2013	1.568	0.7
Jan. 9, 2013	1.651	0.7
Jan. 16, 2013	1.522	0.7
Jan. 23, 2013	1.593	0.7
Jan. 30, 2013	1.635	0.7
Feb. 6, 2013	1.645	0.7
Feb. 13, 2013	1.519	0.6
Feb. 20, 2013	1.739	0.8
Feb. 27, 2013	1.853	0.8
Average	1.438	0.62

Top Chef Season 11 Ratings (2013-14)
Episode Date	Viewers (millions)	18-49 rating
Oct. 2, 2013	1.318	0.54
Oct. 9, 2013	1.148	0.45
Oct. 16, 2013	1.354	0.54
Oct. 23, 2013	1.165	0.48
Oct. 30, 2013	1.003	0.39
Nov. 6, 2013	1.157	0.53
Nov. 13, 2013	1.205	0.46
Nov. 20, 2013	1.312	0.54
Dec. 4, 2013	1.261	0.50
Dec. 11, 2013	1.260	0.5
Dec. 18, 2013	1.207	0.48
Jan. 1, 2014	1.033	0.42
Jan. 8, 2014	1.402	0.63
Jan. 15, 2014	1.160	0.43
Jan. 22, 2014	1.319	0.58
Jan. 29, 2014	1.494	0.64
Feb. 5, 2014	1.693	0.69
Average	1.264	0.52

Top Chef Season 12 Ratings (2014-15)
Episode Date	Viewers (millions)	18-49 rating
Oct. 15, 2014	1.091	0.44
Oct. 22, 2014	0.980	0.38
Oct. 29, 2014	1.051	0.38
Nov. 5, 2014	0.906	0.37
Nov. 12, 2014	0.901	0.39
Nov. 19, 2014	0.949	0.43
Dec. 3, 2014	0.955	0.40
Dec. 10, 2014	0.979	0.35
Dec. 17, 2014	0.983	0.37
Jan. 7, 2015	1.015	0.42
Jan. 14, 2015	1.090	0.48
Jan. 21, 2015	0.990	0.38
Jan. 28, 2015	1.110	0.50
Feb. 4, 2015	0.885	0.42
Feb. 11, 2015	0.955	0.40
Average	0.989	0.41

Top Chef Season 13 Ratings (2015-16)
Episode Date	Viewers (millions)	18-49 rating
Dec. 2, 2015	0.795	0.26
Dec. 3, 2015	0.841	0.27
Dec. 10, 2015	0.889	0.37
Dec. 17, 2015	0.850	0.37
Jan. 7, 2016	0.914	0.36
Jan. 14, 2016	0.895	0.34
Jan. 21, 2016	1.148	0.50
Jan. 28, 2016	0.973	0.43
Feb. 4, 2016	0.928	0.43
Feb. 11, 2016	0.856	0.39
Feb. 18, 2016	0.876	0.37
Feb. 25, 2016	0.833	0.37
Mar. 3, 2016	0.881	0.38
Mar. 10, 2016	0.921	0.38
Mar. 17, 2016	1.169	0.46
Average	0.918	0.38

Top Chef Season 14 Ratings (2016-17)
Episode Date	Viewers (millions)	18-49 rating
Dec. 1, 2016	0.796	0.33
Dec. 8, 2016	0.825	0.31
Dec. 15, 2016	0.820	0.30
Dec. 22, 2016	0.784	0.29
Dec. 29, 2016	0.968	0.29
Jan. 5, 2017	1.055	0.39
Jan. 12, 2017	1.063	0.41
Jan. 19, 2017	1.007	0.36
Jan. 26, 2017	1.130	0.41
Feb. 2, 2017	1.018	0.37
Feb. 9, 2017	0.882	0.36
Feb. 16, 2017	1.041	0.40
Feb. 23, 2017	0.971	0.37
Mar. 2, 2017	1.286	0.50
Average	0.975	0.36

Top Chef Season 15 Ratings (2017-18)
Episode Date	Viewers (millions)	18-49 rating
Dec. 7, 2017	0.879	0.33
Dec. 14, 2017	0.784	0.28
Dec. 21, 2017	0.813	0.28
Dec. 28, 2017	0.989	0.32
Jan. 4, 2018	0.957	0.36
Jan. 11, 2018	0.847	0.31
Jan. 18, 2018	0.864	0.29
Jan. 25, 2018	0.806	0.27
Feb. 1, 2018	0.881	0.31
Feb. 8, 2018	0.797	0.29
Feb. 15, 2018	0.842	0.29
Feb. 22, 2018	0.736	0.25
Mar. 1, 2018	0.771	0.26
Mar. 8, 2018	0.927	0.33
Average	0.850	0.30

Top Chef Season 16 Ratings (2018-19)
Episode Date	Viewers (millions)	18-49 rating
Dec. 6, 2018	0.833	0.25
Dec. 13, 2018	0.698	0.22
Dec. 20, 2018	0.870	0.31
Dec. 27, 2018	0.960	0.36
Jan. 3, 2019	1.132	0.35
Jan. 10, 2019	0.977	0.34
Jan. 17, 2019	1.015	0.32
Jan. 24, 2019	0.983	0.33
Jan. 31, 2019	1.028	0.33
Feb. 7, 2019	0.934	0.32
Feb. 14, 2019	0.978	0.33
Feb. 21, 2019	0.912	0.32
Feb. 28, 2019	0.956	0.32
Mar. 7, 2019	0.936	0.32
Mar. 14, 2019	0.909	0.26
Average	0.941	0.31

Top Chef Season 17 Ratings (2020)
Episode Date	Viewers (millions)	18-49 rating
Mar. 19, 2020	0.768	0.26
Mar. 26, 2020	0.821	0.29
Apr. 2, 2020	0.829	0.29
Apr. 9, 2020	0.911	0.29
Apr. 16, 2020	0.822	0.30
Apr. 23, 2020	0.919	0.31
Apr. 30, 2020	0.891	0.27
May 7, 2020	0.949	0.32
May 14, 2020	0.899	0.29
May 21, 2020	0.842	0.27
May 28, 2020	0.901	0.29
Jun. 4, 2020	0.845	0.28
Jun. 11, 2020	0.998	0.33
Jun. 18, 2020	1.044	0.30
Average	0.889	0.29

Top Chef Season 18 Ratings (2021)
Episode Date	Viewers (millions)	18-49 rating
Apr. 1, 2021	0.829	0.24
Apr. 8, 2021	0.737	0.25
Apr. 15, 2021	0.748	0.24
Apr. 22, 2021	0.892	0.29
Apr. 29, 2021	0.898	0.31
May 6, 2021	0.906	0.28
May 13, 2021	0.847	0.27
May 20, 2021	0.775	0.26
May 27, 2021	0.832	0.27
Jun. 3, 2021	0.776	0.24
Jun. 10, 2021	0.834	0.23
Jun. 17, 2021	0.892	0.25
Jun. 24, 2021	0.824	0.25
Jul. 1, 2021	0.891	0.29
Average	0.834	0.26

Top Chef Season 19 Ratings (2022)
Episode Date	Viewers (millions)	18-49 rating
Mar. 3, 2022	0.701	0.18
Mar. 10, 2022	0.792	0.20
Mar. 17, 2022	0.754	0.19
Mar. 24, 2022	0.759	0.20
Mar. 31, 2022	0.825	0.26
Apr. 7, 2022	0.770	0.23
Apr. 14, 2022	0.655	0.20
Apr. 21, 2022	0.735	0.23
Apr. 28, 2022	0.727	0.24
May 5, 2022	0.707	0.21
May 12, 2022	0.688	0.18
May 19, 2022	0.717	0.20
May 26, 2022	0.631	0.20
Jun. 2, 2022	0.694	0.20
Average	0.725	0.21

**last episode specials excluded from season averages

Source: Nielsen Media Research