An object of the present invention is to provide an ink composition for ink jet recording, which can produce high-quality prints and has excellent ejection stability, and to provide an ink set using the same. The ink composition for ink jet recording according to the present invention is characterized by comprising at least a compound represented by formula (I) whereinEO represents an ethyleneoxy group;PO represents a propyleneoxy group;m1, m2, m3, n1, n2, and n3 each are independently 0 (zero) or a natural number of not less than 1;EO and PO may be arranged, regardless of order in the parentheses [ ], randomly or as blocks joined together; and m1+m2+m3+n1+n2+n3 is in the range of 0.5 to 10 in terms of number average of a mixture of compounds represented by formula (I), and a colorant, provided that when, in formula (I), all of n1, n2, and n3 are zero, the ink composition further comprises glycerin.