Top-rated United States television programs of 1986–87
# Top-rated United States television programs of 1986–87

This table displays the top-rated primetime television series of the 1986–87 season as measured by Nielsen Media Research.

| Rank | Program | Network | Rating |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | The Cosby Show | NBC | 34.9 |
| 2 | Family Ties | NBC | 32.7 |
| 3 | Cheers | NBC | 27.2 |
| 4 | Murder, She Wrote | CBS | 25.4 |
| 5 | The Golden Girls | NBC | 24.5 |
| 6 | 60 Minutes | CBS | 23.3 |
| 7 | Night Court | NBC | 23.2 |
| 8 | Growing Pains | ABC | 22.7 |
| 9 | Moonlighting | ABC | 22.4 |
| 10 | Who's the Boss? | ABC | 22.0 |
| 11 | Dallas | CBS | 21.3 |
| 12 | Newhart | CBS | 19.5 |
| 13 | Amen | NBC | 19.4 |
| 14 | 227 | NBC | 18.9 |
| 15 | Matlock | NBC | 18.6 |
| 15 | CBS Sunday Night Movie | CBS | 18.6 |
| 15 | NBC Monday Night Movie | NBC | 18.6 |
| 18 | Monday Night Football | ABC | 18.4 |
| 19 | Kate & Allie | CBS | 18.3 |
| 20 | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC | 18.2 |
| 21 | L.A. Law | NBC | 17.4 |
| 21 | My Sister Sam | CBS | 17.4 |
| 23 | Falcon Crest | CBS | 17.3 |
| 24 | Highway to Heaven | NBC | 17.2 |
| 24 | Dynasty | ABC | 17.2 |
| 26 | Knots Landing | CBS | 16.8 |
| 26 | Miami Vice | NBC | 16.8 |
| 28 | ALF | NBC | 16.5 |
| 28 | Hunter | NBC | 16.5 |
| 30 | Head of the Class | ABC | 16.4 |
