Few TV families have a story as easy to follow, or as fun to binge, as the Tanners. Full House ran for eight seasons on ABC, and more than 20 years later Fuller House brought most of the family back to the same San Francisco house for five more. Here's how to watch both shows in order, what each season covers, and the episodes that tie the two together.
Full House and Fuller House watch order: the quick answer
There's only one order you need:
- Full House seasons 1–8 (1987–1995), 192 episodes
- Fuller House seasons 1–5 (2016–2020), 75 episodes
That's 267 episodes of Tanner family life. There are no spin-off detours or timeline puzzles here. Fuller House is a direct sequel, and it picks up with the Tanner girls grown up.
Full House seasons 1–8 (1987–1995)
Full House was created by Jeff Franklin and aired on ABC from September 22, 1987, to May 23, 1995. Recently widowed sports anchor Danny Tanner recruits his rock musician brother-in-law, Jesse Katsopolis, and his stand-up comedian best friend, Joey Gladstone, to help raise his three young daughters, D.J., Stephanie and Michelle.
| Season | Years | Episodes |
|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 1987–1988 | 22 |
| Season 2 | 1988–1989 | 22 |
| Season 3 | 1989–1990 | 24 |
| Season 4 | 1990–1991 | 26 |
| Season 5 | 1991–1992 | 26 |
| Season 6 | 1992–1993 | 24 |
| Season 7 | 1993–1994 | 24 |
| Season 8 | 1994–1995 | 24 |
The show was never a critics' favorite, but it was consistently in the Nielsen Top 30 from season two onward and has lived on in reruns ever since. All seven original cast members stayed for the full eight-year run. Michelle was played by twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, who alternated in the role, and D.J.'s best friend Kimmy Gibbler (Andrea Barber) went from recurring guest to series regular in season 5.
Full House episodes to know
- Full House S01E01: Our Very First Show. Joey and Jesse move in to help Danny raise his three daughters. It's where it all begins.
- Full House S01E09: The Miracle of Thanksgiving. The girls' first Thanksgiving without their mom, and one of the sweetest episodes of the early run.
- Full House S02E09: Our Very First Christmas Show. The Tanners spend Christmas stuck at an airport.
- Full House S04E18: The Wedding (1) and S04E19: The Wedding (2). Jesse goes skydiving before he and Rebecca get married.
- Full House S04E20: Fuller House. Yes, there's a Full House episode called "Fuller House." Jesse and Rebecca move in, and the house gets even more crowded. The sequel series shares that name, 25 years later.
- Full House S07E17: The Last Dance. Jesse's beloved grandfather, Papouli, dies in his sleep during a visit, and Jesse and Michelle struggle to come to terms with it.
- Full House S08E23: Michelle Rides Again (1) and S08E24: Michelle Rides Again (2). The two-part series finale aired on May 23, 1995. Michelle falls off her horse and loses her memory, then gets it back.
Fuller House seasons 1–5 (2016–2020)
After years of reunion talk, John Stamos, who has an ownership stake in the show, led the push to bring it back. Netflix ordered 13 episodes, and Fuller House premiered on February 26, 2016, with every episode of the first season released at once.
The setup flips the original. D.J. Tanner-Fuller, now a veterinarian and recently widowed mother of three boys, Jackson, Max and baby Tommy, moves back into her childhood home. Her sister Stephanie and her best friend Kimmy, along with Kimmy's teenage daughter Ramona, move in to help her raise them. Candace Cameron Bure, Jodie Sweetin and Andrea Barber lead the cast, and most of the original ensemble returns as regulars or guests. The big exception is Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, who both declined to return as Michelle.
| Season | Released | Episodes |
|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | February 2016 | 13 |
| Season 2 | December 2016 | 13 |
| Season 3 | September and December 2017 | 18 |
| Season 4 | December 2018 | 13 |
| Season 5 | December 2019 and June 2020 | 18 |
Fuller House episodes to know
- Fuller House S01E01: Our Very First Show, Again. The title is a direct callback to the Full House pilot. The premiere features a Tanner family reunion, and D.J. leans on Kimmy and Stephanie for help.
- Fuller House S01E02: Moving Day. D.J. and her sons move into the original Tanner house with Kimmy, Ramona and Stephanie, while Danny, Teri, Jesse, Becky, Nicky and Alex move to Los Angeles.
- Fuller House S01E13: Love is in the Air. Jesse and Becky come back to renew their vows, and D.J. has a decision to make.
- Fuller House S02E06: Fuller Thanksgiving. The entire Tanner family shows up for Thanksgiving.
- Fuller House S03E17: Fullers in a Fog. Danny, Joey and Jesse celebrate the 30th anniversary of their "Dadiversary."
- Fuller House S04E01: Oh My Santa. D.J. tries to get Max and Tommy back into the Christmas spirit.
- Fuller House S05E18: Our Very Last Show, Again. The series finale, released on June 2, 2020, with a triple wedding that keeps threatening to fall apart.
Should you watch Full House before Fuller House?
Ideally, yes. Fuller House is packed with callbacks, recreated scenes and returning characters, and the jokes land best if you know the original. The two pilots alone, "Our Very First Show" and "Our Very First Show, Again," are a fun pair to watch back to back.
If you don't have time for all 192 Full House episodes, try this shortcut: watch season 1, the season 4 wedding and "Fuller House" episodes, and the two-part finale, then start Fuller House.
Full House and Fuller House FAQ
How many seasons of Full House are there?
Eight seasons and 192 episodes, from 1987 to 1995.
How many seasons of Fuller House are there?
Five seasons and 75 episodes, released from 2016 to 2020. The fifth and final season was released in two halves, in December 2019 and June 2020.
Is Michelle in Fuller House?
No. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, who shared the role of Michelle, both declined to return.
Where does Fuller House take place?
In the same San Francisco house as Full House, which still belongs to Danny Tanner.
Want more TGIF-era family sitcoms? Browse our guides and the full list of family shows, or check out our picks for the best Thanksgiving and best Christmas episodes, where the Tanners feature on both.