Best Selling Metal, Hard Rock Albums of All Time
The list below is based on RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) data
and reflects sales figures in the United States.
and reflects sales figures in the United States.
| Cover art | Artist name / Album title | Format | Certified Units | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Smashes, Thrashes & Hits [Compilation] November 16, 1988 Hard Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | October 11, 1994 Nu Metal | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | October 15, 1996 Nu Metal | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | Remasters [Compilation] October 15, 1990 Hard Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | The Complete Studio Recordings [Boxed set] September 24, 1993 Hard Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | BBC Sessions [Live] November 11, 1997 Hard Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | Mothership [Compilation] November 13, 2007 Hard Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | July 1, 1997 Nu Metal, Rap Metal | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | July 30, 2002 Rap Rock, Nu Metal | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | August 13, 1973 Southern Rock, Hard Rock, Blues Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | April 1974 Southern Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | October 1977 Southern Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | March 9, 1999 Southern Rock, Hard Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | July 6, 1992 Thrash Metal, Heavy Metal | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | June 5, 2003 Alternative Metal | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | September 12, 2008 Heavy Metal, Thrash Metal | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | September 1979 Southern Rock, Hard Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | Decade of Decadence '81-'91 [Compilation] October 19, 1991 Heavy Metal, Glam Metal, Hard Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | June 26, 1990 AOR, Hard Rock, Glam Metal | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | September 21, 1999 Industrial Rock, Alternative Rock, Art Rock, Industrial Metal | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | February 22, 1986 Heavy Metal, Hard Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | Tribute: Randy Rhoads [Live] May 26, 1987 Heavy Metal | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | November 1, 1988 Heavy Metal, Hard Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | October 24, 1995 Heavy Metal, Hard Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | The Ozzman Cometh [Compilation] November 11, 1997 Heavy Metal, Hard Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | February 25, 1992 Groove Metal | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | Greatest Hits 1986-1996 [Compilation] November 26, 1996 Glam Metal, Hard Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | Live Killers [Live] June 26, 1979 Hard Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | November 13, 2000 Hard Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | November 2, 1999 Rap Metal, Alternative Metal | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | June 13, 1985 Glam Metal, Hard Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | April 1978 Hard Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | June 1982 Hard Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | November 1984 Hard Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | Chronicles [Compilation] September 4, 1990 Progressive Rock, Hard Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | November 6, 1990 Heavy Metal, Melodic Metal | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | June 11, 1991 Heavy Metal, Glam Metal, Hard Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | January 27, 1990 Glam Metal, Hard Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | June 29, 1999 Nu Metal | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | October 8, 1991 Heavy Metal, Grunge | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | April 13, 1999 Nu Metal, Alternative Metal | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | April 1984 AOR, Pop Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | October 19, 1979 AOR, Hard Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | Greatest Hits [Compilation] August 22, 1995 AOR, Hard Rock, Progressive Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | 1975 Hard Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | October 1976 Hard Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | Great Gonzos! the Best of Ted Nugent [Compilation] 1981 Hard Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | February 1, 1989 Hard Rock, Glam Metal | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | May 12, 1992 Hard Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | Smash Hits [Compilation] April 1968 Acid Rock, Blues Rock, Psychedelic Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | October 25, 1968 Psychedelic Rock, Hard Rock, Blues Rock, Acid Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | May 23, 1969 Hard Rock, Rock Opera | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | Live at Leeds [Live] May 3, 1970 Hard Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | 1978 Hard Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | Who's Greatest Hits [Compilation] November 23, 1983 Rock, Hard Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | April 6, 1993 Alternative Metal | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | May 15, 2001 Alternative Metal, Progressive Metal | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | October 12, 2004 Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | September 1992 Hard Rock, Heavy Metal | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | April 29, 1981 Hard Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | Live: Right Here, Right Now [Live] February 23, 1993 Hard Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | June 7, 2004 Hard Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | January 31, 1989 Glam Metal, Hard Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | September 10, 1990 Glam Metal, Hard Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | June 21, 1987 Hard Rock, Glam Metal | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | March 17, 1992 Groove Metal , Industrial Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | April 11, 1995 Groove Metal, Industrial Metal | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | 1984 Heavy Metal | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | The Best of ZZ Top [Compilation] March 21, 1977 Blues Rock, Hard Rock, Southern Rock | Album | 2,000,000 | 2x Multi-Platinum |
 | Jar of Flies [EP] January 25, 1994 Grunge, Heavy Metal | Short Form Album | 1,500,000 | 3x Multi-Platinum |
 | May 23, 2000 Alternative Metal, Alternative Rock, Hard Rock, Progressive Rock | Album | 1,000,000 | Platinum |
 | September 16, 2003 Alternative Rock, Alternative Metal, Art Rock, Progressive Rock | Album | 1,000,000 | Platinum |
 | May 1978 Hard Rock | Album | 1,000,000 | Platinum |
 | December 1978 Hard Rock | Album | 1,000,000 | Platinum |
 | August 1983 Hard Rock | Album | 1,000,000 | Platinum |
 | '74 Jailbreak [EP] October 15, 1984 Hard Rock | Album | 1,000,000 | Platinum |
 | July 1985 Hard Rock | Album | 1,000,000 | Platinum |
 | February 2, 1988 Hard Rock | Album | 1,000,000 | Platinum |
 | Bonfire [Boxed set] November 11, 1997 Hard Rock, Blues Rock, Rock & Roll | Album | 1,000,000 | Platinum |
 | February 29, 2000 Hard Rock | Album | 1,000,000 | Platinum |
 | September 18, 1978 Hard Rock, Glam Rock | Album | 1,000,000 | Platinum |
 | Live Bootleg [Live] October 1978 Hard Rock | Album | 1,000,000 | Platinum |
 | November 1979 Hard Rock | Album | 1,000,000 | Platinum |
 | Classics Live! [Live] April 1986 Hard Rock | Album | 1,000,000 | Platinum |
 | Pandora's Box [Boxed set] November 1991 Hard Rock | Album | 1,000,000 | Platinum |
 | A Little South of Sanity [Live] October 20, 1998 Hard Rock | Album | 1,000,000 | Platinum |
 | March 6, 2001 Hard Rock | Album | 1,000,000 | Platinum |
 | March 8, 1971 Hard Rock, Glam Rock | Album | 1,000,000 | Platinum |
 | 1972 Hard Rock | Album | 1,000,000 | Platinum |
 | 1972 Hard Rock | Album | 1,000,000 | Platinum |
 | 1973 Hard Rock | Album | 1,000,000 | Platinum |
 | Greatest Hits [Compilation] 1974 Hard Rock | Album | 1,000,000 | Platinum |
 | 1975 Hard Rock | Album | 1,000,000 | Platinum |
 | July 1989 Hard Rock | Album | 1,000,000 | Platinum |
 | MTV Unplugged [Live] July 30, 1996 Grunge, Acoustic Rock | Album | 1,000,000 | Platinum |
 | Nothing Safe: Best of the Box [Compilation] June 29, 1999 Grunge, Alternative Metal | Album | 1,000,000 | Platinum |
 | March 6, 2001 Alternative Rock, Alternative Metal | Album | 1,000,000 | Platinum |
 | January 12, 1981 Hard Rock | Album | 1,000,000 | Platinum |
 | July 26, 1983 AOR, Progressive Rock | Album | 1,000,000 | Platinum |
 | May 24, 2005 Hard Rock, Post-Grunge, Alternative Rock | Album | 1,000,000 | Platinum |
