The best selling album in 2012 in United States was 21 by ADELE which sold 4,414,047 copies.
| Rank | Artist | Album | Sales | Released |
| 1 |
ADELE |
21 |
4,414,047 |
2011 |
| 2 |
TAYLOR SWIFT |
RED |
3,107,249 |
2012 |
| 3 |
ONE DIRECTION |
UP ALL NIGHT |
1,615,604 |
2011 |
| 4 |
MUMFORD & SONS |
BABEL |
1,463,352 |
2012 |
| 5 |
ONE DIRECTION |
TAKE ME HOME |
1,339,652 |
2012 |
| 6 |
JUSTIN BIEBER |
BELIEVE |
1,323,605 |
2012 |
| 7 |
CARRIE UNDERWOOD |
BLOWN AWAY |
1,202,779 |
2012 |
| 8 |
LUKE BRYAN |
TAILGATES & TANLINES |
1,104,835 |
2011 |
| 9 |
LIONEL RICHIE |
TUSKEGEE |
1,071,047 |
2012 |
| 10 |
JASON ALDEAN |
NIGHT TRAIN |
1,023,988 |
2012 |
| 11 |
MAROON 5 |
OVEREXPOSED |
988,153 |
2012 |
| 12 |
P!NK |
THE TRUTH ABOUT LOVE |
944,681 |
2012 |
| 13 |
FUN. |
SOME NIGHTS |
903,075 |
2012 |
| 14 |
WHITNEY HOUSTON |
WHITNEY: THE GREATEST HITS |
886,303 |
2000 |
| 15 |
ROD STEWART |
MERRY CHRISTMAS, BABY |
858,257 |
2012 |
| 16 |
NICKI MINAJ |
PINK FRIDAY: ROMAN RELOADED |
785,417 |
2012 |
| 17 |
ERIC CHURCH |
CHIEF |
763,742 |
2011 |
| 18 |
NOW SERIES (US) |
NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSIC! VOL. 41 |
763,400 |
2012 |
| 19 |
ZAC BROWN BAND |
UNCAGED |
718,447 |
2012 |
| 20 |
ADELE |
19 |
717,790 |
2008 |
| 21 |
GOTYE |
MAKING MIRRORS |
700,344 |
2011 |
| 22 |
DRAKE |
TAKE CARE |
698,286 |
2011 |
| 23 |
THE LUMINEERS |
THE LUMINEERS |
693,343 |
2012 |
| 24 |
THE BLACK KEYS |
EL CAMINO |
655,311 |
2011 |
| 25 |
MUMFORD & SONS |
SIGH NO MORE |
644,670 |
2009 |
| 26 |
KATY PERRY |
TEENAGE DREAM |
641,860 |
2010 |
| 27 |
MICHAEL BUBLÉ |
CHRISTMAS |
621,687 |
2011 |
| 28 |
LITTLE BIG TOWN |
TORNADO |
605,065 |
2012 |
| 29 |
JASON ALDEAN |
MY KINDA PARTY |
594,374 |
2010 |
| 30 |
KENNY CHESNEY |
WELCOME TO THE FISHBOWL |
592,286 |
2012 |
| 31 |
LADY ANTEBELLUM |
OWN THE NIGHT |
584,318 |
2011 |
| 32 |
KENDRICK LAMAR |
GOOD KID, M.A.A.D. CITY |
584,005 |
2012 |
| 33 |
OF MONSTERS & MEN |
MY HEAD IS AN ANIMAL |
568,643 |
2011 |
| 34 |
LINKIN PARK |
LIVING THINGS |
563,018 |
2012 |
| 35 |
KELLY CLARKSON |
STRONGER |
554,551 |
2011 |
| 36 |
RIHANNA |
UNAPOLOGETIC |
553,403 |
2012 |
| 37 |
RIHANNA |
TALK THAT TALK |
545,818 |
2011 |
| 38 |
PHILLIP PHILLIPS |
THE WORLD FROM THE SIDE OF THE MOON |
533,194 |
2012 |
| 39 |
JOHN MAYER |
BORN & RAISED |
530,051 |
2012 |
| 40 |
MADONNA |
MDNA |
526,531 |
2012 |
| 41 |
NOW SERIES (US) |
NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSIC! VOL. 43 |
524,154 |
2012 |
| 42 |
NOW SERIES (US) |
NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSIC! VOL. 44 |
524,130 |
2012 |
| 43 |
COLDPLAY |
MYLO XYLOTO |
512,189 |
2011 |
| 44 |
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND |
AWAY FROM THE WORLD |
496,106 |
2012 |
| 45 |
RICK ROSS |
GOD FORGIVES, I DON'T |
492,696 |
2012 |
| 46 |
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN |
WRECKING BALL |
490,171 |
2012 |
| 47 |
BRUNO MARS |
UNORTHODOX JUKEBOX |
480,287 |
2012 |
| 48 |
NOW SERIES (US) |
NOW 42 |
479,230 |
2012 |
| 49 |
LANA DEL REY |
BORN TO DIE |
479,147 |
2012 |
| 50 |
2 CHAINZ |
BASED ON A T.R.U. STORY |
477,936 |
2012 |
| 51 |
SOUNDTRACK |
THE HUNGER GAMES: SONGS FROM DISTRICT 12 AND BEYOND |
462,903 |
2012 |
| 52 |
RASCAL FLATTS |
CHANGED |
455,268 |
2012 |
| 53 |
USHER |
LOOKING 4 MYSELF |
450,417 |
2012 |
| 54 |
HUNTER HAYES |
HUNTER HAYES |
448,124 |
2011 |
| 55 |
JACK WHITE |
BLUNDERBUSS |
445,918 |
2012 |
| 56 |
FRANK OCEAN |
CHANNEL ORANGE |
442,998 |
2012 |
| 57 |
LADY ANTEBELLUM |
ON THIS WINTER'S NIGHT |
439,438 |
2012 |
| 58 |
JASON MRAZ |
LOVE IS A FOUR LETTER WORD |
429,081 |
2012 |
| 59 |
BLAKE SHELTON |
CHEERS, IT'S CHRISTMAS |
427,794 |
2012 |
| 60 |
SKRILLEX |
BANGARANG |
426,032 |
2011 |
| 61 |
IMAGINE DRAGONS |
NIGHT VISIONS |
416,875 |
2012 |
| 62 |
ALICIA KEYS |
GIRL ON FIRE |
415,748 |
2012 |
| 63 |
LMFAO |
SORRY FOR PARTY ROCKING |
413,572 |
2011 |
| 64 |
NORAH JONES |
LITTLE BROKEN HEARTS |
412,336 |
2012 |
| 65 |
FLORENCE + THE MACHINE |
CEREMONIALS |
412,254 |
2011 |
| 66 |
VAN HALEN |
A DIFFERENT KIND OF TRUTH |
411,412 |
2012 |
| 67 |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
KANYE WEST PRESENTS GOOD MUSIC CRUEL SUMMER |
407,416 |
2012 |
| 68 |
CHRIS BROWN |
FORTUNE |
406,779 |
2012 |
| 69 |
BRUNO MARS |
DOO-WOPS & HOOLIGANS |
397,901 |
2010 |
| 70 |
BRANTLEY GILBERT |
HALFWAY TO HEAVEN |
395,576 |
2010 |
| 71 |
TRAIN |
CALIFORNIA 37 |
394,974 |
2012 |
| 72 |
BLAKE SHELTON |
RED RIVER BLUE |
392,134 |
2011 |
| 73 |
THE BAND PERRY |
THE BAND PERRY |
378,265 |
2010 |
| 74 |
YOUNG JEEZY |
TM: 103 HUSTLERZ AMBITION |
369,671 |
2011 |
| 75 |
KIDZ BOP KIDS |
KIDZ BOP 21 |
369,578 |
2012 |
| 76 |
GRAMMY NOMINEES SERIES |
2012 GRAMMY NOMINEES |
366,753 |
2012 |
| 77 |
TAYLOR SWIFT |
SPEAK NOW |
357,870 |
2010 |
| 78 |
ALABAMA SHAKES |
BOYS & GIRLS |
354,832 |
2012 |
| 79 |
KID ROCK |
REBEL SOUL |
352,448 |
2012 |
| 80 |
SHINEDOWN |
AMARYLLIS |
351,677 |
2012 |
| 81 |
SCOTTY MCCREERY |
CHRISTMAS WITH SCOTTY MCCREERY |
347,980 |
2012 |
| 82 |
NICKELBACK |
HERE AND NOW |
346,177 |
2011 |
| 83 |
NAS |
LIFE IS GOOD |
345,277 |
2012 |
| 84 |
KIDZ BOP KIDS |
KIDZ BOP 22 |
343,430 |
2012 |
| 85 |
MAROON 5 |
HANDS ALL OVER |
340,238 |
2010 |
| 86 |
LIL WAYNE |
THA CARTER IV |
329,924 |
2011 |
| 87 |
ED SHEERAN |
+ |
329,897 |
2011 |
| 88 |
MIRANDA LAMBERT |
FOUR THE RECORD |
329,837 |
2011 |
| 89 |
TYGA |
CARELESS WORLD: RISE OF THE LAST KING |
327,295 |
2012 |
| 90 |
TREY SONGZ |
CHAPTER V |
318,087 |
2012 |
| 91 |
LED ZEPPELIN |
CELEBRATION DAY |
312,047 |
2012 |
| 92 |
LEE BRICE |
HARD 2 LOVE |
301,898 |
2012 |
| 93 |
THE CIVIL WARS |
BARTON HOLLOW |
300,176 |
2011 |
| 94 |
MEEK MILL |
DREAMS & NIGHTMARES |
295,335 |
2012 |
| 95 |
ZAC BROWN BAND |
YOU GET WHAT YOU GIVE |
295,253 |
2010 |
| 96 |
JAY-Z & KANYE WEST |
WATCH THE THRONE |
294,449 |
2011 |
| 97 |
SCOTTY MCCREERY |
CLEAR AS DAY |
294,156 |
2011 |
| 98 |
TIM MCGRAW |
EMOTIONAL TRAFFIC |
290,621 |
2012 |
| 99 |
BONNIE RAITT |
SLIPSTREAM |
289,372 |
2012 |
| 100 |
SKRILLEX |
SCARY MONSTERS & NICE SPRITES |
288,288 |
2010 |
| 101 |
GREEN DAY |
UNO |
279,526 |
2012 |
| 102 |
GUNS N' ROSES |
GREATEST HITS |
277,221 |
2004 |
| 103 |
FOSTER THE PEOPLE |
TORCHES |
275,065 |
2011 |
| 104 |
TOBY KEITH |
CLANCY'S TAVERN |
274,965 |
2011 |
| 105 |
THE KILLERS |
BATTLE BORN |
273,569 |
2012 |
| 106 |
KIP MOORE |
UP ALL NIGHT |
273,205 |
2012 |
| 107 |
THE BLACK KEYS |
BROTHERS |
271,683 |
2010 |
| 108 |
MARY J. BLIGE |
MY LIFE II THE JOURNEY CONTINUES (ACT 1) |
270,217 |
2011 |
| 109 |
RUSH |
CLOCKWORK ANGELS |
267,790 |
2012 |
| 110 |
SOUNDTRACK |
ROCK OF AGES |
267,372 |
2012 |
| 111 |
BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS |
LEGEND |
266,833 |
1984 |
| 112 |
DAVID GUETTA |
NOTHING BUT THE BEAT |
264,238 |
2011 |
| 113 |
MAYBACH MUSIC GROUP |
PRESENTS: MMG PRESENTS: SELF MADE V.2 |
259,124 |
2012 |
| 114 |
MIGUEL |
KALEIDOSCOPE DREAM |
258,909 |
2012 |
| 115 |
B.O.B. |
STRANGE CLOUDS |
257,246 |
2012 |
| 116 |
PAUL MCCARTNEY |
KISSES ON THE BOTTOM |
254,473 |
2012 |
| 117 |
T.I. |
TROUBLE MAN: HEAVY IS THE HEAD |
252,700 |
2012 |
| 118 |
WIZ KHALIFA |
O.N.I.F.C. |
251,852 |
2012 |
| 119 |
JOURNEY |
GREATEST HITS |
249,976 |
1988 |
| 120 |
ALAN JACKSON |
THIRTY MILES WEST |
248,992 |
2012 |
| 121 |
ZAC BROWN BAND |
THE FOUNDATION |
247,489 |
2008 |
| 122 |
MUSE |
THE 2ND LAW |
247,471 |
2012 |
| 123 |
THE AVETT BROTHERS |
THE CARPENTER |
247,144 |
2012 |
| 124 |
FUTURE |
PLUTO |
244,733 |
2012 |
| 125 |
DIERKS BENTLEY |
HOME |
242,687 |
2012 |
| 126 |
BOB DYLAN |
TEMPEST |
242,372 |
2012 |
| 127 |
MATCHBOX TWENTY |
NORTH |
239,610 |
2012 |
| 128 |
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH |
AMERICAN CAPITALIST |
239,482 |
2011 |
| 129 |
KEYSHIA COLE |
WOMAN TO WOMAN |
232,081 |
2012 |
| 130 |
NO DOUBT |
PUSH & SHOVE |
231,031 |
2012 |
| 131 |
FLORENCE + THE MACHINE |
LUNGS |
229,687 |
2009 |
| 132 |
SOUNDTRACK |
THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN - PART 1 |
229,207 |
2011 |
| 133 |
WHITNEY HOUSTON |
THE BODYGUARD (SOUNDTRACK) |
227,399 |
1992 |
| 134 |
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL |
CHRONICLE: 20 GREATEST HITS |
222,627 |
1976 |
| 135 |
THE SHINS |
PORT OF MORROW |
221,697 |
2012 |
| 136 |
BEYONCÉ |
4 |
220,208 |
2011 |
| 137 |
TAYLOR SWIFT |
FEARLESS |
218,605 |
2008 |
| 138 |
EMINEM |
RECOVERY |
218,142 |
2010 |
| 139 |
R. KELLY |
WRITE ME BACK |
217,487 |
2012 |
| 140 |
TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA |
DREAMS OF FIREFLIES (ON A CHRISTMAS NIGHT) (EP) |
217,109 |
2012 |
| 141 |
SOUNDTRACK |
PROJECT X |
217,069 |
2012 |
| 142 |
THE FRAY |
SCARS & STORIES |
216,817 |
2012 |
| 143 |
MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS |
THE HEIST |
213,539 |
2012 |
| 144 |
SOUNDTRACK |
PITCH PERFECT |
212,098 |
2012 |
| 145 |
TONY BENNETT |
DUETS II |
210,768 |
2011 |
| 146 |
SOUNDTRACK |
SHAKE IT UP: LIVE 2 DANCE |
209,961 |
2012 |
| 147 |
SOUNDTRACK |
THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN: PART 2 |
209,547 |
2012 |
| 148 |
CARLY RAE JEPSEN |
KISS |
208,078 |
2012 |
| 149 |
FIONA APPLE |
THE IDLER WHEEL IS WISER THAN THE DRIVER OF THE SCREW AND WHIPPING CORDS WILL SERVE YOU MORE THAN ROPES WILL EVER DO |
204,755 |
2012 |
| 150 |
PISTOL ANNIES |
HELL ON HEELS |
201,579 |
2011 |
| 151 |
BOB SEGER |
ULTIMATE HITS: ROCK AND ROLL NEVER FORGETS |
200,350 |
2011 |
| 152 |
AWOLNATION |
MEGALITHIC SYMPHONY |
200,231 |
2011 |
| 153 |
FLO RIDA |
WILD ONES |
199,939 |
2012 |
| 154 |
PITBULL |
PLANET PIT |
198,719 |
2011 |
| 155 |
THE WEEKND |
TRILOGY |
197,243 |
2012 |
| 156 |
NOW SERIES (US) |
NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSIC! VOL. 40 |
197,055 |
2011 |
| 157 |
KELLY CLARKSON |
GREATEST HITS - CHAPTER ONE |
195,890 |
2012 |
| 158 |
BEASTIE BOYS |
LICENSED TO ILL |
193,846 |
1986 |
| 159 |
CHRISTINA AGUILERA |
LOTUS |
192,254 |
2012 |
| 160 |
JUSTIN BIEBER |
MY WORLD 2.0 / MY WORLDS |
189,880 |
2010 |
| 161 |
NOW SERIES (US) |
NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL COUNTRY: VOLUME 5 |
189,098 |
2012 |
| 162 |
THE FRESH BEAT BAND |
MUSIC FROM THE HIT TV SHOW |
188,559 |
2012 |
| 163 |
NE-YO |
R.E.D. |
187,446 |
2012 |
| 164 |
DEMI LOVATO |
UNBROKEN |
185,917 |
2011 |
| 165 |
ELLIE GOULDING |
LIGHTS |
184,078 |
2010 |
| 166 |
JAKE OWEN |
BAREFOOT BLUE JEAN NIGHT |
183,437 |
2011 |
| 167 |
MONICA |
NEW LIFE |
181,668 |
2012 |
| 168 |
FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE |
HERE'S TO THE GOOD TIMES |
181,289 |
2012 |
| 169 |
CEE LO GREEN |
CEELO'S MAGIC MOMENT |
180,703 |
2012 |
| 170 |
THE XX |
COEXIST |
178,829 |
2012 |
| 171 |
BLAKE SHELTON |
LOADED: THE BEST OF BLAKE SHELTON |
178,401 |
2010 |
| 172 |
SOUNDTRACK |
LES MISERABLES |
178,357 |
2012 |
| 173 |
SUSAN BOYLE |
STANDING OVATION: THE GREATEST SONGS FROM THE STAGE |
177,877 |
2012 |
| 174 |
JOSH TURNER |
PUNCHING BAG |
177,249 |
2012 |
| 175 |
PINK FLOYD |
DARK SIDE OF THE MOON |
175,874 |
1973 |
| 176 |
DAUGHTRY |
BREAK THE SPELL |
175,237 |
2011 |
| 177 |
NEIL DIAMOND |
THE VERY BEST OF NEIL DIAMOND (THE ORIGINAL STUDIO RECORDINGS) |
175,064 |
2011 |
| 178 |
ETTA JAMES |
20TH CENTURY MASTERS - THE BEST OF ETTA JAMES |
174,825 |
1999 |
| 179 |
ADAM LAMBERT |
TRESPASSING |
173,639 |
2012 |
| 180 |
AMY WINEHOUSE |
LIONESS: HIDDEN TREASURES |
173,615 |
2011 |
| 181 |
LIONEL RICHIE |
20TH CENTURY MASTERS - THE MILLENNIUM COLLECTION: THE BEST OF LIONEL RICHIE |
173,466 |
2003 |
| 182 |
JUSTIN BIEBER |
UNDER THE MISTLETOE |
172,993 |
2011 |
| 183 |
ANTHONY HAMILTON |
BACK TO LOVE |
172,121 |
2012 |
| 184 |
WHITNEY HOUSTON |
WHITNEY HOUSTON |
171,853 |
1985 |
| 185 |
AEROSMITH |
MUSIC FROM ANOTHER DIMENSION! |
171,350 |
2012 |
| 186 |
THE WANTED |
WANTED EP |
170,752 |
2012 |
| 187 |
NEIL YOUNG |
AMERICANA |
170,541 |
2012 |
| 188 |
LADY GAGA |
BORN THIS WAY |
170,401 |
2011 |
| 189 |
LADY ANTEBELLUM |
NEED YOU NOW |
170,135 |
2010 |
| 190 |
J. COLE |
COLE WORLD: THE SIDELINE STORY |
169,743 |
2011 |
| 191 |
LYNYRD SKYNYRD |
20TH CENTURY MASTERS - THE BEST OF LYNYRD SKYNYRD |
169,590 |
1999 |
| 192 |
ALEX CLARE |
THE LATENESS OF THE HOUR |
169,467 |
2011 |
| 193 |
EMINEM |
CURTAIN CALL: THE HITS |
168,607 |
2005 |
| 194 |
JUSTIN MOORE |
OUTLAWS LIKE ME |
167,132 |
2011 |
| 195 |
KESHA |
WARRIOR |
166,315 |
2012 |
| 196 |
TOBY KEITH |
HOPE ON THE ROCKS |
166,075 |
2012 |
| 197 |
PINK FLOYD |
THE WALL |
165,716 |
1979 |
| 198 |
MICHAEL JACKSON |
NUMBER ONES |
165,198 |
2003 |
| 199 |
ELLIE GOULDING |
HALCYON |
164,938 |
2012 |
| 200 |
HALESTORM |
THE STRANGE CASE OF |
164,903 |
2012 |
Source: Nielsen SoundScan
