There is provided an ink composition for ink jet recording, which can yield images having excellent gloss with good color reproduction even on various recording media having a low level of water absorption, especially synthetic paper and printing paper for running-on. The ink composition for ink jet recording comprises a colorant, water, an alkanediol, and a surfactant, wherein the alkanediol comprises a water-soluble 1,2-alkanediol, a poor water-soluble 1,2-alkanediol, and a poor water-soluble both terminal alkanediol, and the alkanediol satisfies a requirement on a weight basis of A:(B+C)=2:1 to 2:3 wherein A represents the content of the water-soluble 1,2-alkanediol in the alkanediol; B represents the content of the poor water-soluble 1,2-alkanediol in the alkanediol; and C represents the content of the poor water-soluble both terminal alkanediol in the alkanediol.