What Are the Best-Selling Albums of All Time in the US
The best-selling albums of all time in the US are identified primarily through RIAA multi-platinum certifications based on traditional album-equivalent units and historical sales. The list is led by long-running catalog staples that have remained in demand for decades.
Top Certified Albums and Their Sales Milestones
Albums such as Eagles' "Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)" and Michael Jackson's "Thriller" have reached 38× Platinum or higher, reflecting tens of millions of units moved. Other entries like Whitney Houston's soundtrack and Billy Joel's "Greatest Hits" show how soundtracks and compilation releases can accumulate massive certified volumes.
How US Album Sales Are Measured and Reported
The RIAA awards Platinum and multi-Platinum status for every 1 million units, which include pure sales and on-demand audio or video streams. Because methodologies have changed over time, older albums may show higher certified units than recent releases with similar consumption levels.
For current certification levels and detailed breakdowns, refer to the RIAA Gold & Platinum database at https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/.
