The BEST episodes of Ink Master

Every episode of Ink Master ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Ink Master!

An estimated 40 million Americans have at least one tattoo. So who is the country's preeminent tattoo artist? Ink Master is the first-ever tattoo competition series featuring some of the nation's top tattoo artists on a quest to determine who is the best at their craft and win a huge cash prize. The stakes are high as the artists showcase their irrevocable artwork on real people's bodies. The dramatic tension is ever-present as the artists will ultimately face the opinion of the living canvas who now bears a permanent souvenir of the Ink Master etched into his or her skin.

Last Updated: 7/3/2026Network: Paramount+Status: Continuing

8.36

124 votes

#1 - Fighting Dirty

Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 4/22/2014

Week 9: Detail. Contestants must engrave a custom grill for the flash challenge. Then they must tattoo a warrior in the elimination tattoo.

Watch Now:Amazon

8.16

81 votes

#2 - Match a Master

Season 14 - Episode 4 - Aired 9/21/2022

In an unexpected twist, 4 Ink Masters show up to keep the Artists on their toes. The Master of Chaos stops by and flips the competition on its head.

Watch Now:Amazon

8.15

114 votes

#3 - Up in Smoke

Season 5 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/11/2014

Josh causes a controversy that could get him kicked out of the competition for good. The Artists tattoo amputees where their limbs once were.

Watch Now:Amazon

8.14

1033 votes

#4 - Picture Imperfect

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 2/28/2012

Botched portrait tattoos are exhibited.

Watch Now:Amazon Apple TV

8.11

128 votes

#5 - Ink Master Explosion

Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 4/15/2014

Week 8: Negative Space. Artists use gunpowder to make art in The Flash Challenge; gory tattoos of demons.

Watch Now:Amazon Apple TV

8.10

172 votes

#6 - Firing Squad

Season 5 - Episode 14 - Aired 12/2/2014

Artists battle for the top four spots; a top artist designs the tattoo that determines who stays and gets a shot at $100,000.

Watch Now:Amazon

8.09

129 votes

#7 - Artist Slaughter

Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 4/8/2014

Week 7: Adaptability. The contestants must tattoo a word and an image together in the flash challenge. Then canvases seek cover-ups of tattoos they got for exes.

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8.09

113 votes

#8 - Cold Blooded

Season 5 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/4/2014

Artists use blood for ink in the Flash Challenge, then go head to head against guest judge Tommy Montoya; Emily goes over the edge.

Watch Now:Amazon

8.07

125 votes

#9 - Karma's a Bitch

Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 5/6/2014

Week 11: Proportion. Contestants must accurately sketch the Statue of Liberty from a yacht, and then tattoo it using only their sketch. In the elimination challenge, they must tattoo a traditional Japanese-style snake, but with a difficult twist.

Watch Now:Amazon Apple TV

8.05

123 votes

#10 - 2 on 1 Tat-Astrophe

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 4/1/2014

Week 6: Contrast. Contestants must tattoo their canvas' personal beach in the flash challenge. Forced to work in pairs; a canvas passes out and one artist loses his marbles; a drastic decision.

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8.05

304 votes

#11 - Sink or Soar

Season 7 - Episode 9 - Aired 4/26/2016

The artists work in pairs to execute large-scale back pieces testing texture... and each other’s nerves.

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8.02

301 votes

#12 - Turning the Tables

Season 7 - Episode 12 - Aired 5/17/2016

The tables are turned when the new artists call the shots in the elimination tattoo and get revenge.

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8.00

124 votes

#13 - Fight to the Finish

Season 4 - Episode 12 - Aired 5/13/2014

The Top 4 artists battle for finale spots in two challenges: inking breast-cancer survivors' scars; and covering up some of this season's worst mistakes. Then, a final twist is announced.

Watch Now:Amazon

8.00

43 votes

#14 - Mash Up Mayhem

Season 16 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/4/2024

In the epic fight to the finale, the final five Artists battle it out with mash up tattoos. A jaw-dropping twist puts their versatility to the test. Who will be the last three artists standing in the Ink Master Finale?

Watch Now:Amazon

7.99

788 votes

#15 - Finale

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 3/6/2012

Season 1 finale. A winner is named after the human canvasses allow the artists to tattoo whatever they want on their skin.

Watch Now:Amazon Apple TV

7.99

141 votes

#16 - Three's a Crowd

Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/14/2014

Artists must work in teams to take on Oliver's specialty and put one of their own on the chopping block.

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7.98

128 votes

#17 - X-Men's Hugh Jackman

Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 3/25/2014

Week 5: Technical Precision. Superhero power tattoos in the flash challenge.

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7.96

144 votes

#18 - Grudge Match Finale

Season 11 - Episode 16 - Aired 12/18/2018

Christian Buckingham and Cleen Rock One return to settle the grudge match once and for all. The battle concludes as the top three artists reveal their 35-hour master canvas tattoos and one artist wins the title of Ink Master.

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7.94

145 votes

#19 - Virgin Blood

Season 5 - Episode 9 - Aired 10/28/2014

Jason's anxiety could take him out after virgin canvases get their first tattoos.

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7.93

160 votes

#20 - Head to Headache

Season 5 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/16/2014

Josh ignites rivalries and sparks fly. Two Artists receive an advantage no one in the competition has ever had and their cutthroat strategy.

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7.93

192 votes

#21 - Tatt Ganged

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 3/11/2014

Week 3: Consistency. Bikini-clad twins get inked by the remaining 10 artists at once; an injury sends one artist to the emergency room.

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7.93

95 votes

#22 - Tag Team Tatt

Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 4/29/2014

Week 10: Flexibility. With no flash challenge, the artists are paired up and must take turns tattooing one design on a canvas.

Watch Now:Apple TV

7.93

94 votes

#23 - Step Up or Shut Up

Season 12 - Episode 15 - Aired 9/17/2019

The last four artists remaining battle it out in a tattoo marathon to secure their spot in the season finale.

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7.93

80 votes

#24 - Glass on Blast

Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired 9/30/2014

The artists must make art by sand blasting glass while trying to survive working in teams; when the artists tattoo head-to-head, rivalries explode; Emily makes a new enemy.

Watch Now:Amazon Apple TV

7.92

100 votes

#25 - Moving Pictures

Season 12 - Episode 13 - Aired 9/3/2019

The artists are on their own in a test of finesse as the six remaining competitors fight for the cash prize and the title of Ink Master.

Watch Now:Amazon