Paul Natkin/Rick Diamond/Getty Images; Pete Still/Redferns
According to the RIAA, only a handful of albums have sold at least 15 million copies in the US.The RIAA's highest-certified album is "Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)" by the Eagles.Green Day's "Dookie" is the most recent album to receive the award.
The Recording Industry Association of America tracks music sales and honors best sellers with gold, platinum, and diamond awards.
Although an artist or label must request verification of sales and streaming figures — meaning some hit songs and blockbuster albums have yet to be officially certified — the RIAA remains a widely recognized arbiter of success and prestige in the music industry.
Only a handful of albums have been certified 15x platinum or higher by the RIAA, meaning they have sold at least 15 million copies in the US. Legendary artists like the Eagles, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and Garth Brooks each have more than one entry on this list. Only four women or female-fronted bands have achieved the feat: Alanis Morissette, Shania Twain, Fleetwood Mac, and Whitney Houston.
The 31 best-selling albums in the US, per the RIAA's qualifications, are listed below in chronological order of certification date.
1. "The Dark Side of the Moon" by Pink Floyd
"The Dark Side of the Moon" was released in 1973.
Harvest/Capitol
"The Dark Side of the Moon" was certified 15x platinum on June 4, 1998.
2. "Jagged Little Pill" by Alanis Morissette
"Jagged Little Pill" was released in 1995.
Maverick/Reprise
"Jagged Little Pill" was certified 16x platinum on July 29, 1998.
Its certification was updated to 17x platinum on January 12, 2024.
3. "The Wall" by Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd Music Ltd/Sony
"The Wall" was certified 23x platinum on January 29, 1999.
4. "1962–1966" by The Beatles
"1962–1966" was released on April 2, 1973.
Apple
"1962–1966," also known as the "Red Album," was certified 15x platinum on February 6, 2001.
5. "Boston" by Boston
"Boston" was released in 1976.
Epic
"Boston" was certified 17x platinum on November 20, 2003.
6. "Supernatural" by Santana
"Supernatural" was released in 1999.
Arista
"Supernatural" was certified 15x platinum on December 10, 2003.
7. "Come On Over" by Shania Twain
"Come On Over" was released in 1997.
Mercury Nashville
"Come On Over" was certified 20x platinum on November 15, 2004.
8. "Physical Graffiti" by Led Zeppelin
"Physical Graffiti" was released in 1975.
Swan Song
"Physical Graffiti" was certified 16x platinum on January 30, 2006.
9. "Double Live" by Garth Brooks
Capitol Nashville
"Double Live" was certified 21x platinum on November 1, 2006.
Its certification was updated to 23x platinum on November 14, 2023.
10. "Greatest Hits" by Journey
Columbia/Sony
"Greatest Hits" was certified 15x platinum on April 22, 2008.
Its certification was updated to 18x platinum on January 26, 2024.
11. "Appetite for Destruction" by Guns N' Roses
"Appetite for Destruction" was released in 1987.
Geffen
"Appetite for Destruction" was certified 18x platinum on September 23, 2008.
12. "1967–1970" by The Beatles
"1967–1970" was released in 1973.
Apple
"1967–1970," also known as the "Blue Album," was certified 17x platinum on August 27, 2010.
13. "Greatest Hits – Volume I & Volume II" by Billy Joel
"Greatest Hits – Volume I & Volume II" was released in 1985.
Columbia
"Greatest Hits – Volume I & Volume II" was certified 23x platinum on October 26, 2011.
14. "Metallica" by Metallica
"Metallica" was released in 1991.
Elektra
"Metallica" was certified 16x platinum on December 13, 2012.
Its certification was updated to 20x platinum on May 28, 2025.
15. "Legend" by Bob Marley & The Wailers
"Legend" was released in 1984.
Island
"Legend" was certified 15x platinum on May 23, 2014.
Its certification was updated to 18x platinum on December 6, 2024.
16. "Rumours" by Fleetwood Mac
"Rumours" was released on February 4, 1977.
Warner Bros
"Rumours" was certified 20x platinum on October 3, 2014.
Its certification was updated to 21x platinum on July 19, 2023.
17. "Greatest Hits" by Elton John
"Greatest Hits" was released in 1974.
Island
"Greatest Hits" was certified 17x platinum on April 28, 2016.
18. "Saturday Night Fever" by the Bee Gees
"Saturday Night Fever" was released in 1977.
RSO
"Saturday Night Fever," the soundtrack for the 1977 film of the same name, was certified 16x platinum on November 16, 2017.
19. "The Bodyguard" by Whitney Houston
"The Bodyguard" was released in 1992.
RCA Records
"The Bodyguard," the soundtrack for the 1992 film of the same name, was certified 18x platinum on November 17, 2017.
Its certification was updated to 19x platinum on June 25, 2025.
20. "Cracked Rear View" by Hootie & the Blowfish
"Cracked Rear View" was released in 1994.
Atlantic
"Cracked Rear View" was certified 21x platinum on May 21, 2018.
Its certification was updated to 22x platinum on June 20, 2024.
21. "Hotel California" by the Eagles
"Hotel California" was released in 1976.
Asylum
"Hotel California" was certified 26x platinum on August 20, 2018.
22. "Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)" by the Eagles
"Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)" was released in 1976.
Asylum
"Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)" was certified 38x platinum on August 20, 2018.
23. "The Beatles" by The Beatles
"The Beatles" was released in 1968.
Apple
"The Beatles," also known as the "White Album," was certified 24x platinum on February 21, 2019.
24. "Back in Black" by AC/DC
"Back In Black" was released in 1980.
Columbia
"Back in Black" was certified 25x platinum on December 6, 2019.
Its certification was updated to 27x platinum on August 21, 2024.
25. "No Fences" by Garth Brooks
"No Fences" was released in 1990.
Pearl Records, Inc.
"No Fences" was certified 18x platinum on February 14, 2020.
26. "Thriller" by Michael Jackson
"Thriller" was released in 1982.
Epic
"Thriller" was certified 34x platinum on August 20, 2021.
27. "Greatest Hits 1974–78" by the Steve Miller Band
"Greatest Hits 1974–78" was released in 1978.
Capitol/Mercury
"Greatest Hits 1974–78" was certified 15x platinum on October 27, 2021.
28. "Led Zeppelin IV" by Led Zeppelin
"Led Zeppelin IV" was released in 1971.
Atlantic
The untitled fourth studio album by Led Zeppelin, commonly known as "Led Zeppelin IV," was certified 24x platinum on November 8, 2021.
29. "Born in the U.S.A." by Bruce Springsteen
"Born in the U.S.A." was released in 1984.
Columbia
"Born in the U.S.A." was certified 17x platinum on May 25, 2022.
30. "Slippery When Wet" by Bon Jovi
"Slippery When Wet" was released in 1986.
Mercury Records
"Slippery When Wet" was certified 15x platinum on July 23, 2024.
31. "Dookie" by Green Day
"Dookie" was released in 1994.
Reprise Records
"Dookie" was certified 20x platinum on September 16, 2024.
