List of best-selling albums in the United States

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This is a list of best-selling albums in the United States according to the Recording Industry Association of America. Albums marked with a "≈" are double albums, and therefore are counted twice for each sale (see below):


  1. Eagles - Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975) (1976, Asylum) - 29 times platinum
  2. Michael Jackson - Thriller (Epic, 1982) - 27 times platinum
  3. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV (Atlantic, 1971) - 23 times platinum
  4. ≈ Pink Floyd - The Wall (Columbia, 1979) - 23 times platinum
  5. AC/DC - Back in Black (Atlantic, 1980) - 21 times platinum
  6. ≈ Billy Joel - Greatest Hits, Vols. 1 & 2 (Columbia, 1985) - 21 times platinum
  7. Shania Twain - Come on Over (Mercury, 1997) - 20 times platinum
  8. ≈ Garth Brooks - Double Live (Capitol, 1998) - 20 times platinum
  9. ≈ The Beatles - The Beatles ("The White Album") (Apple, 1968) - 19 times platinum
  10. Fleetwood Mac - Rumours (Warner Bros., 1977) - 19 times platinum
  11. Boston - Boston (Epic, 1976) - 17 times platinum
  12. Whitney Houston - The Bodyguard (Arista, 1992) - 17 times platinum
  13. Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill (Maverick, 1995) - 16 times platinum
  14. Hootie and the Blowfish - Cracked Rear View (Atlantic, 1994) - 16 times platinum
  15. Elton John - Greatest Hits (Polydor, 1974) - 16 times platinum
  16. ≈ The Beatles - 1967–1970 ("the Blue Album") (Capitol, 1973) - 16 times platinum
  17. Garth Brooks - No Fences (Capitol, 1990) - 16 times platinum
  18. ≈ Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti (Swan Song, 1975) - 16 times platinum
  19. Eagles - Hotel California (Asylum, 1976) - 16 times platinum
  20. Britney Spears - ...Baby One More Time (Jive, 1999) - 15 times platinum
  21. Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon (Capitol, 1973) - 15 times platinum
  22. ≈ The Beatles - 1962–1966 ("the Red Album") (Capitol, 1973) - 15 times platinum
  23. ≈ Bee Gees - Saturday Night Fever (soundtrack) (RSO, 1977) - 15 times platinum
  24. Guns N' Roses - Appetite for Destruction (Geffen, 1987) - 15 times platinum
  25. Bruce Springsteen - Born in the U.S.A. (Columbia, 1984) - 15 times platinum
  26. Santana - Supernatural (Arista, 1999) - 15 times platinum
  27. Backstreet Boys - Backstreet Boys (Jive, 1997) - 14 times platinum
  28. Metallica - Metallica ("the Black Album") (Elektra, 1991) - 14 times platinum
  29. Simon and Garfunkel - Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits (Columbia, 1972) - 14 times platinum
  30. Meat Loaf - Bat Out of Hell (Epic, 1977) - 14 times platinum
  31. Garth Brooks - Ropin' the Wind (Capitol, 1991) - 14 times platinum
  32. Journey - Greatest Hits (Columbia, 1988) - 14 times platinum
  33. Backstreet Boys - Millennium (Jive, 1999) - 13 times platinum
  34. Steve Miller Band - Greatest Hits (1974–1978) (Capitol, 1978) - 13 times platinum
  35. Whitney Houston - Whitney Houston (Arista, 1985) - 13 times platinum
  36. Prince and the Revolution - Purple Rain (soundtrack) (Warner Bros., 1984) - 13 times platinum
  37. ≈ Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band - Live/1975-85 (Columbia, 1986) - 13 times platinum
  38. ≈ Forrest Gump (soundtrack) (Epic, 1994) - 12 times platinum
  39. Kenny Rogers - Kenny Rogers' Greatest Hits (1980) - 12 times platinum
  40. ≈ The Rolling Stones - Hot Rocks, 1964–1971 (London, 1972) - 12 times platinum
  41. Shania Twain - The Woman in Me (Mercury, 1995) - 12 times platinum
  42. Kenny G - Breathless (Arista, 1992) - 12 times platinum
  43. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II (Atlantic, 1969) - 12 times platinum
  44. Pearl Jam - Ten (Epic, 1991) - 12 times platinum
  45. matchbox twenty - yourself or someone like you (Atlantic, 1996) - 12 times platinum
  46. The Beatles - Abbey Road (Apple, 1969) - 12 times platinum
  47. Boyz II Men - II (Motown, 1994) - 12 times platinum
  48. Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet (Mercury, 1986) - 12 times platinum
  49. Dixie Chicks - Wide Open Spaces (Monument, 1998) - 12 times platinum
  50. Phil Collins - No Jacket Required (Atlantic, 1985) - 12 times platinum
  51. Def Leppard - Hysteria (Mercury, 1987) - 12 times platinum
  52. Jewel - Pieces of You (Atlantic, 1995) - 12 times platinum
  53. Creed - Human Clay (Wind-Up, 1999) - 11 times platinum
  54. Celine Dion - Falling into You (Epic, 1996) - 11 times platinum
  55. Eagles - Eagles Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 (Asylum, 1982) - 11 times platinum
  56. The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Capitol, 1967) - 11 times platinum
  57. Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy (Atlantic, 1973) - 11 times platinum
  58. Kid Rock - Devil Without a Cause (Atlantic, 1998) - 11 times platinum
  59. TLC - CrazySexyCool (LaFace, 1994) - 11 times platinum
  60. Various Artists - Dirty Dancing (RCA, 1987) - 11 times platinum
  61. Various Artists - Titanic (Epic, 1997) - 11 times platinum
  62. James Taylor - Greatest Hits (Warner Bros., 1976) - 11 times platinum
  63. *NSYNC - No Strings Attached (Jive, 2000) - 11 times platinum
  64. ≈ Shania Twain - Up (Mercury, 2002) - 11 times platinum
  65. ≈ OutKast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (LaFace, 2003) - 11 times platinum
  66. Green Day - Dookie (Reprise, 1994) - 10 times platinum
  67. Ace of Base - The Sign (Arista, 1993) - 10 times platinum
  68. Mariah Carey - Music Box (Columbia, 1993) - 10 times platinum
  69. Mariah Carey - Daydream (Columbia, 1995) - 10 times platinum
  70. Dixie Chicks - Fly (Monument, 1999) - 10 times platinum
  71. Celine Dion - Let's Talk About Love (Epic, 1997) - 10 times platinum
  72. Eminem-The Marshall Mathers LP (Aftermath\Interscope 2000)- 10 times platinum
  73. No Doubt - Tragic Kingdom (Interscope, 1995) - 10 times platinum
  74. Doobie Brothers - Best of the Doobies (Warner Bros., 1976) - 10 times platinum
  75. Billy Joel - The Stranger - 10 times platinum
  76. Aerosmith - Aerosmith's Greatest Hits (Columbia, 1980) - 10 times platinum
  77. Garth Brooks - The Hits (Capitol, 1994) - 10 times platinum
  78. Eric Clapton - Unplugged (Reprise, 1992) - 10 times platinum
  79. Carole King - Tapestry (Ode, 2000) - 10 times platinum
  80. Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory (Warner Bros., 2000) - 10 times platinum
  81. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin (Atlantic, 1969) - 10 times platinum
  82. Madonna - The Immaculate Collection (Sire, 1990) - 10 times platinum
  83. Madonna - Like a Virgin (Sire, 1984) - 10 times platinum
  84. Bob Marley & the Wailers - Legend (Tuff Gong, 1984) - 10 times platinum
  85. George Michael - Faith (Columbia, 1987) - 10 times platinum
  86. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Greatest Hits (MCA, 1993) - 10 times platinum
  87. Def Leppard - Pyromania (Mercury, 1983) - 10 times platinum
  88. Nirvana - Nevermind (Geffen, 1991) - 10 times platinum
  89. Elton John and others - The Lion King (Walt Disney, 1994) - 10 times platinum
  90. Lionel Richie - Can't Slow Down (Motown, 1983) - 10 times platinum
  91. MC Hammer - Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em (Capitol, 1990) - 10 times platinum
  92. Van Halen - Van Halen (Warner Bros., 1978) - 10 times platnium
  93. ZZ Top - Eliminator (Warner Bros., 1983) - 10 times platinum
  94. Van Halen - 1984 (Warner Bros., 1984) - 10 times platinum
  95. Britney Spears - Oops!... I Did It Again) (Jive, 2000) - 10 times platinum
  96. Norah Jones - Come Away With Me - 10 times platinum
  97. Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life (Motown, 1976) - 10 times platinum
  98. The Beatles - 1 (Capitol, 2000) - 10 times platinum
  99. U2 - The Joshua Tree (Island, 1987) - 10 times platinum
  100. Eminem - The Eminem Show (Aftermath, 2002) - 10 times platinum
  101. *NSYNC - *NSYNC (RCA, 1998) - 10 times platinum
  102. Patsy Cline - 12 Greatest Hits - (Decca, 1967) - 10 times platinum
  103. ≈ The Notorious B.I.G. - Life After Death - (Bad Boy, 1997) - 10 times platinum
  104. Mariah Carey - Mariah Carey (Columbia, 1990) - 9 times platinum
  105. Beastie Boys - Licensed to Ill (Def Jam, 1986) - 9 times platinum
  106. Boyz II Men - Cooleyhighharmony (Motown, 1991) - 9 times platinum
  107. Garth Brooks - Garth Brooks (Capitol, 1989) - 9 times platinum
  108. Garth Brooks - Sevens (Capitol, 1997) - 9 times platinum
  109. Billy Ray Cyrus - Some Gave All (Mercury, 1992) - 9 times platinum
  110. John Denver - Greatest Hits (RCA, 1974) - 9 times platinum
  111. Journey - Escape (Columbia, 1981) - 9 times platinum
  112. Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms (Warner Bros., 1985) - 9 times platinum
  113. The Doors - The Best of the Doors (Elektra, 1985) - 9 times platinum
  114. Whitney Houston - Whitney (Arista, 1987) - 9 times platinum
  115. REO Speedwagon - Hi Infidelity (Epic, 1980) - 9 times platinum
  116. ≈ Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (Virgin, 1995) - 9 times platinum
  117. ≈ 2Pac - All Eyez On Me (Death Row, 1996) - 9 times platinum
  118. ≈ 2Pac - Greatest Hits (Death Row, 1998) - 9 times platinum
  119. Will Smith - Big Willie Style (Columbia, 1997) - 9 times platinum
  120. Various Artists - Footloose (Columbia, 1984) - 9 times platinum
  121. Various Artists - The Great Band Era - 9 times platinum
  122. Various Artists - Top Gun (Columbia, 1986) - 9 times platinum
  123. Usher - Confessions (LaFace, 2004) - 9 times platinum
  124. Backstreet Boys - Black & Blue (Jive, 2000) - 8 times platinum
  125. Aerosmith - Toys in the Attic (Columbia, 1975) - 8 times platinum
  126. Christina Aguilera - Christina Aguilera (RCA, 1999) - 8 times platinum
  127. The Beatles - The Beatles Anthology Volume 1 (Capitol, 1995) - 8 times platinum
  128. Michael Bolton - Time, Love and Tenderness (Columbia, 1991) - 8 times platinum
  129. Toni Braxton - Secrets (LaFace, 1996) - 8 times platinum
  130. Toni Braxton - Toni Braxton (LaFace, 1993) - 8 times platinum
  131. Garth Brooks - The Chase (Capitol) - 8 times platinum
  132. Garth Brooks - In Pieces (Capitol) - 8 times platinum
  133. Destiny's Child - The Writing's On The Wall (Columbia, 1999) - 8 times platinum
  134. Eagles - Hell Freezes Over (Geffen, 1994) - 8 times platinum
  135. Fleetwood Mac - Greatest Hits (Warner Bros., 1988) - 8 times platinum
  136. Faith Hill - Breathe (Warner Bros., 1999) - 8 times platinum
  137. Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (Ruffhouse, 1998) - 8 times platinum
  138. Michael Jackson - Bad (Epic, 1987) - 8 times platinum
  139. Live - Throwing Copper (Radioactive, 1994) - 8 times platinum
  140. Sarah McLachlan - Surfacing (Arista, 1997) - 8 times platinum
  141. Metallica - ...And Justice for All (Elektra, 1988) - 8 times platinum
  142. Nelly - Country Grammar (Universal, 2000) - 8 times platinum
  143. New Kids on the Block - Hangin' Tough (Columbia, 1988) - 8 times platinum
  144. The Police - Synchronicity (A&M, 1983) - 8 times platinum
  145. Queen - Greatest Hits (Elektra, 1981) - 8 times platinum
  146. Bonnie Raitt - Luck of the Draw (Capitol, 1991) - 8 times platinum
  147. Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water (Columbia, 1970) - 8 times platinum
  148. Stone Temple Pilots - Core (Atlantic, 1992) - 8 times platinum
  149. George Strait - Strait Out of the Box - 8 times platinum
  150. U2 - Achtung Baby (Island, 1991) - 8 times platinum
  151. Whitesnake - Whitesnake (Geffen, 1987) - 8 times platinum

[edit] Top Selling Albums by Decade

[edit] 1950s

  1. Elvis Presley - Elvis' Christmas Album (1957) 9 million copies
  2. Johnny Mathis - Merry Christmas (1958) 5 million copies
  3. Soundtrack - My Fair Lady (Original Cast (1956) 3 million copies
  4. = Miles Davis - Kind of Blue (1959) 3 million copies
  5. Gordon Macrae - Oklahoma! (1955) 2 million copies

[edit] 1960s

  1. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II (1969) 12 million copies
  2. = The Beatles - Abbey Road (1969) 12 million copies
  3. The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) 11 million copies
  4. Patsy Cline - Greatest Hits (1967) 10 million copies
  5. The Beatles - The Beatles (The White Album) (1968) 9.5 million copies (19 million units)
  6. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin I (1969) 8 million copies
  7. The Beatles - Rubber Soul (1965) 6 million copies
  8. = The Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour (1967) 6 million copies
  9. The Monkees - The Monkees (1967) 5 million copies
  10. = The Monkees - More of the Monkees (1967) 5 million copies
  11. = The Beatles - Meet the Beatles! (1964) 5 million copies
  12. = The Beatles - Revolver (1966) 5 million copies

[edit] 1970s

  1. The Eagles - Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 (1976) 29 million copies
  2. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV (1971) 23 million copies
  3. Fleetwood Mac - Rumours (1977) 19 million copies
  4. Boston - Boston (1976) 17 million copies
  5. The Eagles - Hotel California (1976) 16 million copies
  6. = Elton John - Greatest Hits (1974) 16 million copies
  7. Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon (1973) 15 million copies
  8. = The Bee Gees - Saturday Night Fever (Soundtrack) (1977) 15 million copies [15 million units as well]
  9. Meat Loaf - Bat Out of Hell (1977) 14 million copies
  10. = Simon & Garfunkel - Simon & Garfunkel's Greatest Hits (1972) 14 million copies
  • Notes:
    • Pink Floyd's The Wall (1979) has sold 11.5 million copies (23 million units)
    • The Beatles' 1967-1970 (The Blue Album) (1973) has sold 8 million copies (16 million units)
    • Led Zeppelin's Physical Graffiti (1975) has sold 8 million copies (16 million units)
    • The Beatles' 1962-1966 (The Red Album) (1973) has sold 7.5 million copies (15 million units)

[edit] 1980s

  1. Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982) 27 million copies
  2. AC/DC - Back in Black (1980) 21 million copies
  3. Bruce Springsteen - Born in the U.S.A. (1984) 15 million copies
  4. Guns N' Roses - Appetite for Destruction (1987) 15 million copies
  5. Journey - Greatest Hits (1988) 14 million copies
  6. Prince - Purple Rain (1984) 13 million copies
  7. = Whitney Houston - Whitney Houston (1985) 13 million copies
  8. Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet (1986) 12 million copies
  9. = Kenny Rogers - Greatest Hits (1980) 12 million copies
  10. = Def Leppard - Hysteria (1987) 12 million copies
  11. = Phil Collins - No Jacket Required (1985) 12 million copies
  • Notes:
    • Billy Joel's Greatest Hits Volume I & II (1985) has sold 10.5 million copies (21 million units)
    • Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band's Live/1975-85 (1986) has sold 4.3 million copies (13 million units)

[edit] 1990s

  1. Shania Twain - Come On Over (1997) 20 millions U.S.
  2. Whitney Houston - The Bodyguard (1992) 17 millions U.S.
  3. Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill (1996) 16 millions U.S.
  4. Hootie & The Blowfish - Cracked Rear View (1995) 16 millions
  5. Britney Spears - ...Baby One More Time(1999) 14 millions
  6. Metallica - Metallica (1991) 14 millions
  7. Backstreet Boys Backstreet Boys(1997) 14 millions
  8. Santana - Supernatural(1999) 14 millions
  9. Garth Brooks - Ropin' The Wind(1993) 14 millions
 Neilsen SoundScan Data (actual retail sales, excludes catalog)
  1. Shania Twain Come On Over (1997) 15.2 millions
  2. Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill (1995) 14.5
  3. Metallica Metallica(1991) 13.9
  4. Backstreet Boys Backstreet Boys (1997) 12.2
  5. Whitney Houston The Bodyguard (1992) 11.8
  6. N'Sync No Strings Attached(2000) 11.7
  7. Santana Supernatural (1999) 11.5
  8. Creed Human Clay (2000) 10.9
  9. Celine Dion Falling Into You(1996) 10.8
  10. The Beatles 1 (2001) 10.7

[edit] 2000s

  1. Britney Spears - Oops!...I Did It Again (2000) 10 million copies
  2. The Beatles - 1 (2000) 10 million copies
  3. Linkin Park - Hybird Theory (2000) 10 million copies
  4. Norah Jones - Come Away with Me (2002) 10 million copies
  5. Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP (2000) 9 million copies
  6. Nelly - Country Grammar (2000) 9 million copies
  7. Usher - Confessions (2004) 9 million copies
  8. Eminem - The Eminem Show (2002) 8 million copies
  9. Backstreet boys - Black and Blue (2000) 8 million copies
  • Notes:
    • Shania Twain's Up! (2002) has sold 5.5 million copies (11 million units)
    • OutKast's Speakerboxxx/the Love Below (2003) has also sold 5.5 million copies (11 million units)

[edit] Facts

[edit] Further research

  • For information about what makes a platinum album, see RIAA certification.
  • Multi-disc albums released after 1981 whose total length is at least 100 minutes count one for each disc in these figures, which accounts for the many double (or more) albums in the list. For multi-disc albums released before 1982, there is no length requirement.
  • Albums from the mid-1960s and before are underrepresented due to the smaller album buying market of that time; albums from the digital music era on may be underrepresented due to the decline in conventional album sales.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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