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):

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

The Eagles - Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975) (Asylum Records, 1976) - 29 times platinum
Michael Jackson - Thriller (Epic, 1982) - 27 times platinum [1]
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV (Atlantic, 1971) - 23 times platinum
≈ Pink Floyd - The Wall (Columbia, 1979) - 23 times platinum
AC/DC - Back in Black (Atlantic, 1980) - 21 times platinum
≈ Billy Joel - Greatest Hits, Vols. 1 & 2 (Columbia, 1985) - 21 times platinum
Shania Twain - Come on Over (Mercury, 1997) - 20 times platinum
≈ Garth Brooks - Double Live (Capitol, 1998) - 20 times platinum
≈ The Beatles - The Beatles ("The White Album") (Apple, 1968) - 19 times platinum
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours (Warner Bros., 1977) - 19 times platinum
Boston - Boston (Epic, 1976) - 17 times platinum
Whitney Houston - The Bodyguard (Arista, 1992) - 17 times platinum
Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill (Maverick, 1995) - 16 times platinum
Hootie and the Blowfish - Cracked Rear View (Atlantic, 1994) - 16 times platinum
Elton John - Greatest Hits (Polydor, 1974) - 16 times platinum
≈ The Beatles - 1967–1970 ("the Blue Album") (Capitol, 1973) - 16 times platinum
Garth Brooks - No Fences (Capitol, 1990) - 16 times platinum
≈ Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti (Swan Song, 1975) - 16 times platinum
Eagles - Hotel California (Asylum, 1976) - 16 times platinum
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon (Capitol, 1973) - 15 times platinum
≈ The Beatles - 1962–1966 ("the Red Album") (Capitol, 1973) - 15 times platinum
≈ Various Artists - Saturday Night Fever (soundtrack) (RSO, 1977) - 15 times platinum
Guns N' Roses - Appetite for Destruction (Geffen, 1987) - 15 times platinum
Bruce Springsteen - Born in the U.S.A. (Columbia, 1984) - 15 times platinum
Santana - Supernatural (Arista, 1999) - 15 times platinum
Backstreet Boys - Backstreet Boys (Virgin, 1997) - 14 times Platinum
Britney Spears - ....Baby One More Time - 14 times Platinum
Metallica - Metallica ("the Black Album") (Elektra, 1991) - 14 times platinum
Simon and Garfunkel - Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits (Columbia, 1972) - 14 times platinum
Meat Loaf - Bat Out of Hell (Epic, 1977) - 14 times platinum
Garth Brooks - Ropin' the Wind (Capitol, 1991) - 14 times platinum
Journey - Greatest Hits (Columbia, 1988) - 14 times platinum
Backstreet Boys - Millennium (Jive, 1997) - 13 times platinum
Steve Miller Band - Greatest Hits (1974–1978) (Capitol, 1978) - 13 times platinum
Whitney Houston - Whitney Houston (Arista, 1985) - 13 times platinum
Prince and the Revolution - Purple Rain (soundtrack) (Warner Bros., 1984) - 13 times platinum
≈ Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band - Live/1975-85 (Columbia, 1986) - 13 times platinum
≈ Forrest Gump (soundtrack) (Epic, 1994) - 12 times platinum
Kenny Rogers - Kenny Rogers' Greatest Hits (1980) - 12 times platinum
≈ The Rolling Stones - Hot Rocks, 1964–1971 (London, 1972) - 12 times platinum
Shania Twain - The Woman in Me (Mercury, 1995) - 12 times platinum
Kenny G - Breathless (Arista, 1992) - 12 times platinum
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II (Atlantic, 1969) - 12 times platinum
Pearl Jam - Ten (Epic, 1991) - 12 times platinum
Matchbox Twenty - Yourself or Someone Like You (Atlantic, 1996) - 12 times platinum
The Beatles - Abbey Road (Apple, 1969) - 12 times platinum
Boyz II Men - II (Motown, 1994) - 12 times platinum
Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet (Mercury, 1986) - 12 times platinum
Dixie Chicks - Wide Open Spaces (Monument, 1998) - 12 times platinum
Phil Collins - No Jacket Required (Atlantic, 1985) - 12 times platinum
Def Leppard - Hysteria (Mercury, 1987) - 12 times platinum
Jewel - Pieces of You (Atlantic, 1995) - 12 times platinum
Creed - Human Clay (Wind-Up, 1999) - 11 times platinum
Celine Dion - Falling into You (Epic, 1996) - 11 times platinum
Eagles - Eagles Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 (Asylum, 1982) - 11 times platinum
The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Capitol, 1967) - 11 times platinum
Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy (Atlantic, 1973) - 11 times platinum
George Michael - Faith (Columbia, 1987) - 11 times platinum
Kid Rock - Devil Without a Cause (Atlantic, 1998) - 11 times platinum
TLC - CrazySexyCool (LaFace, 1994) - 11 times platinum
Various Artists - Titanic (Epic, 1997) - 11 times platinum
James Taylor - Greatest Hits (Warner Bros., 1976) - 11 times platinum
*NSYNC - No Strings Attached (Jive, 2000) - 11 times platinum
≈ Shania Twain - Up (Mercury, 2002) - 11 times platinum
≈ OutKast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (LaFace, 2003) - 11 times platinum
Britney Spears - Oops!... I Did It Again (Jive, 2000) - 10 times platinum
Whitney Houston - Whitney (Arista, 1987) - 10 times platinum
Green Day - Dookie (Reprise, 1994) - 10 times platinum
Ace of Base - The Sign (Arista, 1993) - 10 times platinum
Madonna - Like A Virgin (Sire, 1984) - 10 times Platinum
Mariah Carey - Music Box (Columbia, 1993) - 10 times platinum
Mariah Carey - Daydream (Columbia, 1995) - 10 times platinum
Dixie Chicks - Fly (Monument, 1999) - 10 times platinum
Celine Dion - Let's Talk About Love (Epic, 1997) - 10 times platinum
Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP (Aftermath\Interscope 2000)- 10 times platinum
No Doubt - Tragic Kingdom (Interscope, 1995) - 10 times platinum
Doobie Brothers - Best of the Doobies (Warner Bros., 1976) - 10 times platinum
Billy Joel - The Stranger - 10 times platinum
Aerosmith - Aerosmith's Greatest Hits (Columbia, 1980) - 10 times platinum
Garth Brooks - The Hits (Capitol, 1994) - 10 times platinum
Eric Clapton - Unplugged (Reprise, 1992) - 10 times platinum
Carole King - Tapestry (Ode, 1971) - 10 times platinum
Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory (Warner Bros., 2000) - 10 times platinum
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin (Atlantic, 1969) - 10 times platinum
Madonna - The Immaculate Collection (Sire, 1990) - 10 times platinum
Bob Marley & the Wailers - Legend (Tuff Gong, 1984) - 10 times platinum
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Greatest Hits (MCA, 1993) - 10 times platinum
Def Leppard - Pyromania (Mercury, 1983) - 10 times platinum
Nirvana - Nevermind (Geffen, 1991) - 10 times platinum
Elton John and others - The Lion King (Walt Disney, 1994) - 10 times platinum
Lionel Richie - Can't Slow Down (Motown, 1983) - 10 times platinum
MC Hammer - Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em (Capitol, 1990) - 10 times platinum
Van Halen - Van Halen (Warner Bros., 1978) - 10 times platinum
ZZ Top - Eliminator (Warner Bros., 1983) - 10 times platinum
Van Halen - 1984 (Warner Bros., 1984) - 10 times platinum
Norah Jones - Come Away With Me - 10 times platinum
Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life (Motown, 1976) - 10 times platinum
The Beatles - 1 (Capitol, 2000) - 10 times platinum
U2 - The Joshua Tree (Island, 1987) - 10 times platinum
Eminem - The Eminem Show (Aftermath, 2002) - 10 times platinum
*NSYNC - *NSYNC (RCA, 1998) - 10 times platinum
Patsy Cline - 12 Greatest Hits - (Decca, 1967) - 10 times platinum
≈ The Notorious B.I.G. - Life After Death - (Bad Boy, 1997) - 10 times platinum
Mariah Carey - Mariah Carey (Columbia, 1990) - 9 times platinum
Beastie Boys - Licensed to Ill (Def Jam, 1986) - 9 times platinum
Boyz II Men - Cooleyhighharmony (Motown, 1991) - 9 times platinum
Garth Brooks - Garth Brooks (Capitol, 1989) - 9 times platinum
Garth Brooks - Sevens (Capitol, 1997) - 9 times platinum
Billy Ray Cyrus - Some Gave All (Mercury, 1992) - 9 times platinum
John Denver - Greatest Hits (RCA, 1974) - 9 times platinum
Journey - Escape (Columbia, 1981) - 9 times platinum
Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms (Warner Bros., 1985) - 9 times platinum
The Doors - The Best of the Doors (Elektra, 1985) - 10 times platinum
REO Speedwagon - Hi Infidelity (Epic, 1980) - 9 times platinum
≈ Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (Virgin, 1995) - 9 times platinum
≈ 2Pac - All Eyez On Me (Death Row, 1996) - 9 times platinum
≈ 2Pac - Greatest Hits (Death Row, 1998) - 9 times platinum
Will Smith - Big Willie Style (Columbia, 1997) - 9 times platinum
Various Artists - Footloose (Columbia, 1984) - 9 times platinum
Various Artists - The Great Band Era - 9 times platinum
Various Artists - Top Gun (Columbia, 1986) - 9 times platinum
Usher - Confessions (LaFace, 2004) - 9 times platinum
Nelly - Country Grammar (Universal, 2000) - 9 times platinum
Backstreet Boys - Black & Blue (Jive, 2000) - 8 times platinum
Aerosmith - Toys in the Attic (Columbia, 1975) - 8 times platinum
Christina Aguilera - Christina Aguilera (RCA, 1999) - 8 times platinum
The Beatles - The Beatles Anthology Volume 1 (Capitol, 1995) - 8 times platinum
Michael Bolton - Time, Love and Tenderness (Columbia, 1991) - 8 times platinum
Toni Braxton - Secrets (LaFace, 1996) - 8 times platinum
Toni Braxton - Toni Braxton (LaFace, 1993) - 8 times platinum
Garth Brooks - The Chase (Capitol) - 8 times platinum
Garth Brooks - In Pieces (Capitol) - 8 times platinum
Destiny's Child - The Writing's On The Wall (Columbia, 1999) - 8 times platinum
Eagles - Hell Freezes Over (Geffen, 1994) - 8 times platinum
Fleetwood Mac - Greatest Hits (Warner Bros., 1988) - 8 times platinum
Faith Hill - Breathe (Warner Bros., 1999) - 8 times platinum
Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (Ruffhouse, 1998) - 8 times platinum
Michael Jackson - Bad (Epic, 1987) - 8 times platinum
Live - Throwing Copper (Radioactive, 1994) - 8 times platinum
Sarah McLachlan - Surfacing (Arista, 1997) - 8 times platinum
Metallica - ...And Justice for All (Elektra, 1988) - 8 times platinum
Nelly - Country Grammar (Universal, 2000) - 8 times platinum
New Kids on the Block - Hangin' Tough (Columbia, 1988) - 8 times platinum
The Police - Synchronicity (A&M, 1983) - 8 times platinum
Queen - Greatest Hits (Elektra, 1981) - 8 times platinum
Bonnie Raitt - Luck of the Draw (Capitol, 1991) - 8 times platinum
Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water (Columbia, 1970) - 8 times platinum
Stone Temple Pilots - Core (Atlantic, 1992) - 8 times platinum
George Strait - Strait Out of the Box - 8 times platinum
U2 - Achtung Baby (Island, 1991) - 8 times platinum
Whitesnake - Whitesnake (Geffen, 1987) - 8 times platinum
Billy Joel - An Innocent Man (Columbia, 1983) - 7 times platinum
Paula Abdul - "Forever Your Girl" (Virgin, 1988) - 7 times platinum
AC/DC - Highway to Hell (Epic, 1979) - 7 times platinum
Aerosmith - Get A Grip (Geffen, 1993) - 7 times platinum
Aerosmith - Pump (Geffen, 1989) - 7 times platinum
Bon Jovi - New Jersey (Mercury, 1988) - 7 times platinum
Boston - Don't Look Back (Epic, 1978) - 7 times platinum
Bobby Brown - "Don't Be Cruel" (MCA, 1988) - 7 times platinum
Jackson Browne - "Running On Empty" (Asylum, 1977) - 7 times platinum
Jimmy Buffett - "Songs You Know By Heart" (MCA, 1985) - 7 times platinum
The Carpenters - "The Singles: 1969-1973" (A&M, 1973) - 7 times platinum
Eric Clapton - Time Pieces: Best Of Eric Clapton (RSO, 1982) - 7 times platinum
Spice Girls - "Spice" (Virgin, 1997) - 7 times platinum
Madonna - True Blue (A&M, 1986) - 7 times platinum
Michael Jackson - "Off The Wall" (Epic, 1979) - 7 times platinum
Michael Jackson - Dangerous (Epic, 1991) - 7 times platinum
≈ Michael Jackson - "HIStory - Past, Present And Future, Book I" (Epic, 1995) - 7 times platinum
Huey Lewis & the News - Sports (Chrysalis, 1983) - 7 times platinum
Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman (Elektra, 1988) - 7 times platinum
Genesis - Invisible Touch (Atco/Virgin,1986) - 7 times platinum
Janet Jackson - janet. (Virgin, 1993) - 6 times Platinum
Mariah Carey - The Emancipation of Mimi (Island, 2005) - 6 times platinum
Tina Turner - Private Dancer (Capitol, 1984) - 6 times platinum
INXS - Kick - (Atlantic/Mercury, 1987) - 6 times platinum
Phil Collins - Face Value (Atlantic'Virgin, 1981) - 6 times platinum
Phil Collins - But Seriously (Atlantic?Virgin, 1989) - 6 times platinum
Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation 1814 (Breakout-A&M, 1989) - 6 times platinum
U2 - Rattle And Hum (Island, 1988) - 6 times platinum
Metallica - Master Of Puppets (Elektra/ Music For Nations, 1986) - 6 times platinum
Chicago - Chicago 17 (Warner, 1984) - 6 times platinum
ABBA - Gold: Greatest Hits (Polygram, 1992) - 6 times platinum
Cyndi Lauper - She's So Unusual (Portrait, 1983) - 6 times platinum
Foreigner - 4 (Atlantic, 1981) - 6 times platinum
Quiet Riot - Metal Health (Pasha, 1983) - 6 times platinum
Journey - Frontiers (Columbia/CBS, 1983) - 6 times platinum
AC/DC - Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (Atlantic Records,1981) - 6 times platinum
Van Halen - 5150 (Warner Bros., 1986) - 6 times platinum
Aerosmith - Permanent Vacation (Geffen, 1987) - 5 times platinum
Blink-182 - Enema Of The State (M.C.A. Records,1999) - 5 times platinum
Amy Grant - Heart In Motion (Myrrh/A&M, 1991) - 5 times platinum
Peter Gabriel - So (Geffen/Virgin, 1986) - 5 times platinum
Green Day - American Idiot (Reprise, 2004) - 5 times platinum
Tears for Fears - Songs from the Big Chair (Mercury, 1985) - 5 times platinum
Anita Baker - Rapture (Atlantic, 1986) - 5 times platinum
Janet Jackson - Control (A&M, 1986) - 5 times platinum
ZZ Top - Afterburner (Warner, 1985) - 5 times platinum
Madonna - Madonna (Sire, 1983) - 5 times platinum
Men at Work - Business as Usual (CBS, 1982) - 5 times platinum
Metallica - S&M (Elektra, 1999) - 5 times platinum
Kid Rock- "Cocky" (Atlantic,2001)- 5 times platinum
AC/DC - The Razor's Edge (Atlantic Records,1990) - 5 times platinum
AC/DC - Who Made Who (Atlantic Records,1986) - 5 times platinum
Mariah Carey - Butterfly (Sony, 1997) - 5 times Platinum
Poison - Open Up and Say...Ahh! (Capitol, 1988) - 5 times platinum
Van Halen - Van Halen II (Warner Bros., 1979) - 5 times platinum

[edit] Top Selling Albums by Decade

[edit] 1950s

Elvis Presley - Elvis' Christmas Album (1957) 10 million copies
Johnny Mathis - Merry Christmas (1958) 5 million copies
My Fair Lady -(Original Broadway Cast) (1956) 3 million copies
Miles Davis - Kind of Blue (1959) 3 million copies
Motion Picture Soundtrack - Oklahoma! (1955) 2 million copies

[edit] 1960s

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

[edit] 1970s

The Eagles - Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 (1976) 29 million copies
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV (1971) 23 million copies
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours (1977) 19 million copies
Boston - Boston (1976) 17 million copies
The Eagles - Hotel California (1976) 16 million copies
= Elton John - Greatest Hits (1974) 16 million copies
Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon (1973) 15 million copies
= The Bee Gees - Saturday Night Fever (Soundtrack) (1977) 15 million copies [15 million units as well]
Meat Loaf - Bat Out of Hell (1977) 14 million copies
= 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

Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982) 27 million copies
AC/DC - Back in Black (1980) 21 million copies
Def Leppard - Hysteria (1987) 16 million copies
Bruce Springsteen - Born in the U.S.A. (1984) 15 million copies
Guns N' Roses - Appetite for Destruction (1987) 15 million copies
Journey - Greatest Hits (1988) 14 million copies
Prince - Purple Rain (1984) 13 million copies
Whitney Houston - Whitney Houston (1985) 13 million copies
Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet (1986) 12 million copies
Kenny Rogers - Greatest Hits (1980) 12 million copies
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)
- Def Leppard's Pyromania is certified 10 times platinum in America alone

[edit] 1990s

Shania Twain - Come On Over (1997) 20 million U.S.
Whitney Houston - The Bodyguard (1992) 17 million U.S.
Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill (1996) 16 million U.S.
Hootie & The Blowfish - Cracked Rear View (1995) 16 million
Britney Spears - ...Baby One More Time (1999) 14 million
Metallica - Metallica (1991) 14 million
Santana - Supernatural (1999) 14 million
Garth Brooks - Ropin' The Wind (1993) 14 million
Backstreet Boys - Backstreet Boys (1997) 14 million
Backstreet Boys - Millennium (1999) 13 million

Nielsen SoundScan Data (Actual retail sales, excludes catalog. Note: Does not include SoundScan data prior to March 1st, 1991.)

Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill - 13,542,393
Shania Twain - Come On Over - 12,110,660
Metallica - Metallica - 11,715,533
Whitney Houston/Soundtrack - The Bodyguard - 11,605,690
Celine Dion - Falling Into You - 10,224,282
Hootie & the Blowfish - Cracked Rear View - 9,817,666
Soundtrack - Titanic - 9,806,175
Backstreet Boys - Millennium - 9,445,732
Garth Brooks - Ropin' The Wind - 9,370,863
Backstreet Boys - Backstreet Boys - 9,258,265

does not include sales beyond 30 December 1999. Refer Best-selling albums in the United States since Nielsen SoundScan tracking began

[edit] 2000s

Creed - Human Clay (2000) 10.9 million copies
The Beatles - 1 (2001) 10.7 million
Britney Spears - Oops!...I Did It Again (2000) 10 million copies
Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory (2000) 10 million copies
Norah Jones - Come Away with Me (2002) 10 million copies
Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP (2000) 10 million copies
Nelly - Country Grammar (2000) 9 million copies
Usher - Confessions (2004) 9.3 million copies
Eminem - The Eminem Show (2002) 9 million copies
50 Cent - Get Rich Or Die Tryin' (2003) 7.2 million copies

[edit] Facts

Highest selling album by an artist - Michael Jackson - Thriller - 27 times platinum
Highest selling album by a solo artist - Michael Jackson - Thriller - 27 times platinum
Highest selling album by a female artist - Shania Twain - Come on Over - 20 times platinum
Highest selling album by a group - Eagles - Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) - 29 times platinum
Highest selling album by a Pop artist - Michael Jackson - Thriller - 27 times platinum
Highest selling album by a male Pop artist - Michael Jackson - Thriller - 27 times platinum
Highest selling Album by a Teenager - Britney Spears - Baby One More Time - 14 times platinum
Highest selling album by a female Pop artist - Shania Twain - Come on Over - 19 times platinum
Highest selling debut album by a female artist - Britney Spears - ...Baby One More Time - 15 times platinum
Highest selling album by a Pop group - Backstreet Boys - Backstreet Boys - 14 times platinum
Highest selling album by a male Rock artist - Billy Joel - Greatest Hits, Vols. 1 & 2 - 21 times platinum
Highest selling album by a female Rock artist - Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill - 16 times platinum
Highest selling album by a Rock group - Eagles - Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) - 29 times platinum
Highest selling album by a female Christian music artist - Amy Grant - Heart In Motion - 5 times platinum
Highest selling album by a punk rock group - Green Day - Dookie'
Highest selling album by an R&B/Hip Hop act - TLC - CrazySexyCool

[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.