Using reliable sales data is essential for any list of best selling albums. However, reliable data is not available for albums that were released before 1980. The following list has only been compiled with the best available evidence.

These albums are estimated to have sold at least 10 million copies. The data is based on the RIAA’s certifications. It measures sales of albums in the United States. The list includes studio albums, greatest hits, soundtracks and remixes. It also does not include resale of used albums.

The album that has sold the most copies worldwide is Michael Jackson’s 1982 Thriller. It is also the only album to have received a 33x Diamond award. It has sold over 34 million copies in the U.S. and has spent more than 31 weeks on the Billboard chart.

Another album that has sold 10 million copies is Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours. It climbed to the top of the Billboard 200 and reached the top ten on the UK Albums charts. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Other albums on the list include Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, which has sold more than 10 million copies. It was a long-awaited album, and used experimental techniques to create new sounds. It has received perfect scores from critics and has been re-released several times.

Several albums have surpassed the ten million mark, including Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours and Usher’s 2004 smash Confessions. Both albums are on track to cross the 10x platinum mark.