top of page
MUSIC
Sales
Best-Selling Albums
This list features the best-selling albums of all time based on total certified sales from available markets.
RANK | MUSICIAN | ALBUM | SALES | YEAR |
1 | Michael Jackson | Thriller | 51.3 million | 1982 |
2 | Eagles | Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) | 41.2 million | 1976 |
3 | Eagles | Hotel California | 31.8 million | 1976 |
4 | AC/DC | Back in Black | 31.2 million | 1980 |
5 | Shania Twain | Come On Over | 30.4 million | 1997 |
6 | Led Zeppelin | Led Zeppelin IV | 30.4 million | 1971 |
7 | Fleetwood Mac | Rumours | 30.3 million | 1977 |
8 | Whitney Houston / various artists | The Bodyguard | 28.7 million | 1992 |
9 | Adele | 21 | 27.4 million | 2011 |
10 | Alanis Morissette | Jagged Little Pill | 26.4 million | 1995 |
11 | Bob Marley & the Wailers | Legend: The Best of Bob Marley & the Wailers | 25.9 million | 1984 |
12 | Pink Floyd | The Dark Side of the Moon | 24.8 million | 1973 |
13 | Nirvana | Nevermind | 24.8 million | 1991 |
14 | Green Day | Dookie | 24.6 million | 1994 |
15 | Various Artists | Dirty Dancing | 24.1 million | 1987 |
16 | Hootie & the Blowfish | Cracked Rear View | 23.2 million | 1994 |
17 | The Beatles | 1 | 23.2 million | 2000 |
18 | Guns N’ Roses | Appetite for Destruction | 22.8 million | 1987 |
19 | Metallica | Metallica | 22.7 million | 1991 |
20 | Bee Gees / Various artists | Saturday Night Fever | 22.1 million | 1977 |
21 | Meat Loaf | Bat Out of Hell | 22.0 million | 1977 |
22 | Bruce Springsteen | Born in the U.S.A. | 22.0 million | 1984 |
References
Zee News (2020) MJ nearly scrapped 'Thriller' release. [online] Available at: https://web.archive.org/web/20200926073042/https://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/musicworld/mj-nearly-scrapped-thriller-release_42076.html [Accessed 1 December 2025].
Grammy (2022) The Bodyguard soundtrack: 25 years after Whitney Houston's masterpiece. [online] Available at: https://www.grammy.com/news/bodyguard-soundtrack-25-years-after-whitney-houstons-masterpiece [Accessed 1 December 2025].
Billboard (2023) Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon at 40: classic track by track review. [online] Available at: https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/pink-floyd-the-dark-side-of-the-moon-at-40-classic-track-by-track-review-1552399/ [Accessed 1 December 2025].
Harrogate Advertiser (2021) Classic album by the Eagles for Harrogate's Vinyl Sessions fundraiser for Harrogate Hospital Charity. [online] Available at: https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/classic-album-by-the-eagles-for-harrogates-vinyl-sessions-fundraiser-for-harrogate-hospital-charity-3076636 [Accessed 1 December 2025].
Billboard (2022) Meat Loaf: Bat Out of Hell dead at 74. [online] Available at: https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/meat-loaf-bat-out-of-hell-dead-74-obituary-1235021357/ [Accessed 1 December 2025].
Tuscaloosa News (2020) [Title not provided]. [online] Available at: https://eu.tuscaloosanews.com [Accessed 1 December 2025].
IFPI (2020) [Title not provided]. [online] Available at: http://www.ifpi.dk/node/3982 [Accessed 1 December 2025].
Guinness World Records (2024) Biggest selling studio album by a female solo artist. [online] Available at: https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/383776-biggest-selling-studio-album-by-a-female-solo-artist [Accessed 1 December 2025].
CNN (2012) Fleetwood Mac's Rumours: a look back. [online] Available at: https://edition.cnn.com/2012/06/26/showbiz/fleetwood-mac-rumours/index.html [Accessed 1 December 2025].
BBC News (2012) Robin Gibb: Bee Gees star dies aged 62. [online] Available at: https://web.archive.org/web/20130419164046/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1685455/bee-gees-robin-gibb-dead-died-62.jhtml [Accessed 1 December 2025].
SFGate (2014) By the numbers: Led Zeppelin IV. [online] Available at: https://wror.com/2018/11/08/by-the-numbers-led-zeppelin-iv/ [Accessed 1 December 2025].
Los Angeles Times (2009) Dirty Dancing: a cultural phenomenon. [online] Available at: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-ca-dirty-dancing10-2009may10-story.html [Accessed 1 December 2025].
Reuters (2016) Adele’s record-breaking career. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-people-adele-idUSKBN12V20I/ [Accessed 1 December 2025].
Los Angeles Times (2009) The Beatles: an enduring legacy. [online] Available at: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-apr-08-et-beatles8-story.html [Accessed 1 December 2025].
The Independent (2020) Alanis Morissette interview: Jagged Little Pill anniversary. [online] Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/alanis-morissette-interview-jagged-little-pill-anniversary-new-album-a9557041.html [Accessed 1 December 2025].
SFGate (2012) Kirk Hammett: Some Kind of Monster fan. [online] Available at: https://www.sfgate.com/music/article/kirk-hammett-some-kind-of-monster-fan-3850850.php#page-2 [Accessed 1 December 2025].
Jamaica Observer (2017) Bob Marley: Legend. [online] Available at: https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2017/08/05/bob-marley-legend/ [Accessed 1 December 2025].
Q Magazine (2012) Still hungry: 25 years later. [online] Available at: https://web.archive.org/web/20140311063307/http://news.qthemusic.com/2012/08/column_-_still_hungry_25_years.html[Accessed 1 December 2025].
Irish Examiner (2020) [Title not provided]. [online] Available at: https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-20200576.html [Accessed 1 December 2025].
New Irmo News (2019) Drumming up memories: Jim Sonefeld of Hootie and the Blowfish book signing event. [online] Available at: https://thenewirmonews.com/drumming-up-memories-jim-sonefeld-of-hootie-the-blowfish-book-signing-event/ [Accessed 1 December 2025].
The Wire (2014) Green Day's album Dookie: 20 years old today. [online] Available at: https://web.archive.org/web/20140201205800/https://www.thewire.com/entertainment/2014/02/green-days-album-dookie-20-years-old-today/357625/ [Accessed 1 December 2025].
Wikipedia (2024) List of best-selling albums. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_albums [Accessed 1 December 2025].
SCALA
lists
bottom of page