Best-selling albums in the United Kingdom

The list of best-selling albums in the UK is based on British Phonographic Industry (BPI) certifications, and sales figures published by Official Charts and Music Week.

The best-selling album in the UK is Queen’s Greatest Hits I which sold 6,900,000 copies and became 23 times platinum. These figures also include the sales of Greatest Hits I as part of the double set Greatest Hits I and II and the triple set The Platinum Collection, also known as Greatest Hits I, II and III. The best-selling studio album in the UK is Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles with sales of 5,340,000 copies. 21 by Adele is the best-selling album released in the 21st century, as well as the fourth album to cross the five million mark.

Certification levels for albums in the United Kingdom

The BPI has been certifying music recordings since 1973. Initially certification levels were based on monetary revenue: Silver album- £ 75,000, Gold – £ 150,000, Platinum – £ 1,000,000. In 1979, BPI installed new ones, a silver album – 60,000 copies, gold – 100,000, platinum – 300,000. In 1979, BPI set new rules that still apply today: Silver album – 60,000 copies, Gold – 100,000, Platinum – 300,000. Multi-platinum awards (2x Platinum, 3x Platinum, etc.) were introduced only in February 1987. BPI awarded albums released before April 1973 retroactively in February 2016 for all previous sales. From June 2015, audio streams were added to album certifications.

List of best-selling albums in the United Kingdom

The best-selling album in the UK is Queen’s Greatest Hits I
ArtistAlbumCertification or sourceSalesYear release
1QUEENGREATEST HITS I23x Platinum6,900,0001981
2ABBAGOLD – GREATEST HITS20x Platinum6,000,0001992
3THE BEATLESSGT. PEPPER`S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND18x Platinum5,400,0001967
4ADELE2117x Platinum5,170,0002011
5OASIS(WHAT`S THE STORY) MORNING GLORY?16x Platinum4,940,0001995
6MICHAEL JACKSONTHRILLER15x Platinum4,500,0001982
7FLEETWOOD MACRUMOURS15x Platinum4,500,0001977
8PINK FLOYDDARK SIDE OF THE MOON15x Platinum4,500,0001973
9DIRE STRAITSBROTHERS IN ARMS14x Platinum4,350,0001985
10AMY WINEHOUSEBACK TO BLACK14x Platinum4,200,0002006
11MICHAEL JACKSONBAD14x Platinum4,200,0001987
12QUEENGREATEST HITS II13x Platinum3,990,0001991
13BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERSLEGEND13x Platinum3,900,0001984
14SIMPLY REDSTARS12x Platinum + 1x Gold3,700,0001991
15MADONNATHE IMMACULATE COLLECTION12x Platinum3,700,0001990
16ED SHEERANDIVIDE12x Platinum3,600,0002017
17ADELE2512x Platinum3,600,0002015
18ED SHEERANX12x Platinum3,600,0002014
19THE BEATLES112x Platinum3,600,0002000
20SHANIA TWAINCOME ON OVER10x Platinum3,430,0001997
21MEAT LOAFBAT OUT OF HELL11x Platinum3,370,0001977
22JAMES BLUNTBACK TO BEDLAM11x Platinum3,360,0002004
23THE VERVEURBAN HYMNS11x Platinum3,340,0001997
24SIMON & GARFUNKELBRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER11x Platinum3,300,0001970
25LEONA LEWISSPIRIT10x Platinum3,170,0002007
26MICHAEL BUBLÉCRAZY LOVE10x Platinum3,130,0002009
27DIDONO ANGEL9x Platinum3,096,0001999
28DAVID GRAYWHITE LADDER10x Platinum3,040,0001998
29MICHAEL BUBLÉCHRISTMAS10x Platinum3,000,0002011
30KINGS OF LEONONLY BY THE NIGHT10x Platinum3,000,0002008
31LADY GAGATHE FAME10x Platinum3,000,0002008
32COLDPLAYA RUSH OF BLOOD TO THE HEAD10x Platinum3,000,0002002
33ROBBIE WILLIAMSI`VE BEEN EXPECTING YOU10x Platinum3,000,0001998
34SPICE GIRLSSPICE10x Platinum3,000,0001996
35ALANIS MORISSETTEJAGGED LITTLE PILL10x Platinum3,000,0001995
36SOUNDTRACKDIRTY DANCING10x Platinum3,000,0001987
37THE CORRSTALK ON CORNERS9x Platinum2,960,0001995
38DIDOLIFE FOR RENT7x Platinum2,900,0002003
39TAKE THATBEAUTIFUL WORLD8x Platinum2,880,0002006
40U2THE JOSHUA TREE9x Platinum2,880,0001987
41KEANEHOPES AND FEARS9x Platinum2,871,0002004
42JEFF WAYNETHE WAR OF THE WORLDS9x Platinum2,800,0001978
43COLDPLAYX&Y9x Platinum2,790,0002005
44SCISSOR SISTERSSCISSOR SISTERS9x Platinum2,760,0002004
45MIKE OLDFIELDTUBULAR BELLS9x Platinum2,760,0001973
46PHIL COLLINSBUT SERIOUSLY9x Platinum2,750,0001989
47COLDPLAYPARACHUTES9x Platinum2,730,0002000
48TRACY CHAPMANTRACY CHAPMAN9x Platinum2,710,0001988
49SAM SMITHIN THE LONELY HOUR9x Platinum2,700,0002014
50MICHAEL JACKSONNUMBER ONES9x Platinum2,700,0002003
51TRAVISTHE MAN WHO9x Platinum2,700,0001999
52GEORGE MICHAELLADIES & GENTLEMEN – THE BEST OF GEORGE MICHAEL9x Platinum2,700,0001998
53ELTON JOHNTHE VERY BEST OF ELTON JOHN9x Platinum2,700,0001990
54ABBAGREATEST HITS8x Platinum2,598,0001975
55NORAH JONESCOME AWAY WITH ME8x Platinum2,556,0002002
56EMINEMTHE MARSHALL MATHERS LP8x Platinum2,530,0002000
57FLEETWOOD MACTANGO IN THE NIGHT8x Platinum2,500,0001987
58ADELE198x Platinum2,450,0002008
59ED SHEERAN+8x Platinum2,443,0002011
60SOUNDTRACKTHE SOUND OF MUSIC8x Platinum2,438,0001965
61EMELI SANDEOUR VERSION OF EVENTS8x Platinum2,430,0002012
62SNOW PATROLEYES OPEN8x Platinum2,418,0002006
63SOUNDTRACKTHE GREATEST SHOWMAN8x Platinum2,400,0002017
64TAKE THATPROGRESS8x Platinum2,400,0002010
65EMINEMCURTAIN CALL: THE HITS8x Platinum2,400,0002005
66TAKE THATNEVER FORGET – THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION8x Platinum2,400,0002005
67ROBBIE WILLIAMSGREATEST HITS8x Platinum2,400,0002004
68ROBBIE WILLIAMSSWING WHEN YOU`RE WINNING8x Platinum2,400,0002001
69ROBBIE WILLIAMSSING WHEN YOU`RE WINNING8x Platinum2,400,0002000
70ROBBIE WILLIAMSLIFE THRU A LENS8x Platinum2,400,0001997
71OASISDEFINITELY MAYBE8x Platinum2,400,0001994
72TINA TURNERSIMPLY THE BEST8x Platinum2,400,0001991
73ROD STEWARTTHE BEST OF ROD STEWART (1989)8x Platinum2,400,0001989
74PAUL SIMONGRACELAND8x Platinum2,400,0001986
75SOUNDTRACKGREASE8x Platinum2,400,0001978
76THE BEATLESABBEY ROAD8x Platinum2,400,0001969
77ROBSON & JEROMEROBSON & JEROME6x Platinum2,336,0001995
78R.E.M.AUTOMATIC FOR THE PEOPLE7x Platinum2,270,0001992
79THE KILLERSHOT FUSS7x Platinum2,244,0002004
80WHITNEY HOUSTONWHITNEY7x Platinum2,237,0001987
81DUFFYROCKFERRY7x Platinum2,200,0002008
82BEE GEESSATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (SOUNDTRACK)7x Platinum2,151,0001977
83GREEN DAYAMERICAN IDIOT7x Platinum2,150,0002004
84WHITNEY HOUSTONTHE BODYGUARD (SOUNDTRACK)7x Platinum2,138,0001992
85KYLIE MINOGUEKYLIE6x Platinum2,105,0001988
86NOW SERIES (UK)NOW THAT`S WHAT I CALL CHRISTMAS7x Platinum2,100,0002012
87SUSAN BOYLEI DREAMED A DREAM7x Platinum2,100,0002009
88TAKE THATTHE CIRCUS7x Platinum2,100,0002008
89RIHANNAGOOD GIRL GONE BAD7x Platinum2,100,0002007
90GUNS N` ROSESGREATEST HITS7x Platinum2,100,0002004
91MAROON 5SONGS ABOUT JANE7x Platinum2,100,0002002
92RED HOT CHILI PEPPERSBY THE WAY7x Platinum2,100,0002002
93QUEENTHE PLATINUM COLLECTION7x Platinum2,100,0002000
94NOW SERIES (UK)NOW THAT`S WHAT I CALL MUSIC! 447x Platinum2,100,0001999
95CELINE DIONFALLING INTO YOU7x Platinum2,100,0001996
96SIMPLY REDA NEW FLAME7x Platinum2,100,0001989
97MADONNATRUE BLUE7x Platinum2,100,0001986
98ROBBIE WILLIAMSESCAPOLOGY6x Platinum2,075,0002002
99EURYTHMICSGREATEST HITS6x Platinum2,055,0001991
100KAISER CHIEFSEMPLOYMENT6x Platinum2,048,0002005
101FLEETWOOD MACTHE VERY BEST OF FLEETWOOD MAC6x Platinum2,032,0002002
102JUSTIN TIMBERLAKEJUSTIFIED6x Platinum2,009,0002002
103CHRISTINA AGUILERASTRIPPED5x Platinum2,000,0002002

Timeline of the best-selling albums in the United Kingdom

The table shows how the best selling album in the United Kingdom changed over time, since the Multi-platinum awards (2x Platinum, 3x Platinum, etc.) were introduced in February 1987. At various times top certified albums were: Brothers In Arms by Dire Straits, (What’s The Story) Morning Glory by Oasis, Adele’s 21 and Michael Jackson’s Thriller and Bad.

Certification dateArtistAlbumCertificationSales
24.02.1987Dire StraitsBrothers In Arms8x Platinum2,400,000
27.02.1987Michael JacksonThriller8x Platinum2,400,000
28.09.1987Dire StraitsBrothers In Arms9x Platinum2,700,000
01.11.1987Dire StraitsBrothers In Arms10x Platinum3,000,000
01.02.1991Michael JacksonBad10x Platinum3,000,000
01.12.1991QueenGreatest Hits10x Platinum3,000,000
01.01.1992QueenGreatest Hits11x Platinum3,300,000
01.02.1992Dire StraitsBrothers In Arms12x Platinum3,600,000
01.07.1992Michael JacksonBad13x Platinum3,900,000
01.10.1997Oasis(What’s The Story) Morning Glory13x Platinum3,900,000
31.10.1997Dire StraitsBrothers In Arms13x Platinum3,900,000
24.09.2004Oasis(What’s The Story) Morning Glory14x Platinum4,200,000
16.12.2011Adele2114x Platinum4,200,000
02.03.2012Adele2115x Platinum4,500,000
25.05.2012Adele2116x Platinum4,800,000
05.02.2016QueenGreatest Hits20x Platinum6,000,000
20.12.2018QueenGreatest Hits21x Platinum6,300,000
10.08.2020QueenGreatest Hits22x Platinum6,600,000
26.11.2021QueenGreatest Hits23x Platinum6,900,000

See also. Best-sellibg albums by country: