The highest-selling albums and EPs in the United States are ranked in the Billboard 200, which is published by Billboard magazine. The data are compiled by Nielsen Soundscan based on each album's weekly physical and digital sales, as well as on-demand streaming and digital sales of its individual tracks.
In 2017, a total of 38 albums claimed the top position of the chart. Beginning with vocal group Pentatonix's Christmas album, A Pentatonix Christmas, issue dated January 7,[1] another one of which, Canadian singer The Weeknd's third studio album, Starboy returned to the top slot a week later after three weeks from the slot, issue dated December 17, 2016.[2]
Ed Sheeran's third studio album, ÷ (Divide) was the most consumed album of 2017 with 2.764 million equivalent album units with 1.1 million of that sum coming from traditional album sales according to Nielsen Music. Kendrick Lamar's fourth studio album Damn was the second best-selling album of 2017 with 2.747 million equivalent album units according to Nielsen Music. Taylor Swift's sixth studio album, Reputation, was the best-selling album of 2017 with 1.9 million sales, and the third most consumed, with 2.336 million units moved in 2017.[3]
Rapper Future also made Billboard history releasing two different albums in a week apart: his fifth self-titled album and sixth follow-up, Hndrxx. Both managed to peak atop the chart.[4][5] Aside from A Pentatonix Christmas, Starboy, ÷, More Life, Damn and Reputation, the only two number-ones with extended chart runs include: Grateful by DJ Khaled and 4:44 by Jay-Z, four of which spent only two weeks at the top position.
^ a bCaulfield, Keith (December 26, 2016). "Pentatonix's 'Christmas' Album Hits No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
^Billboard (2016-12-04). "The Weeknd's 'Starboy' Bows at No. 1 on Billboard 200 With Third-Biggest Debut of 2016". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
^Keith Caulfield (January 3, 2018). "Ed Sheeran's 'Divide' Is Music's Top Album of 2017 in U.S." Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
^Evan Minsker and Noah Yoo (2017-03-05). "Future Is the First Artist in History to Have Two Different No. 1 Albums Two Weeks in a Row". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
^Ryuichi Sakamoto (2017-03-06). "Future makes history by having two different albums debut at no. 1 in back-to-back weeks". Factmag.com. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
^"Billboard 200 Year-End Albums of 2017". Billboard. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
^Caulfield, Keith (January 2, 2017). "Pentatonix's 'Christmas' Album Spends Second Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
^Caulfield, Keith (January 9, 2017). "The Weeknd Returns to No. 1 on Billboard 200, 'Moana' Soundtrack Zooms to No. 2". Billboard. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
^Caulfield, Keith (January 15, 2017). "'La La Land' Soundtrack Dances to No. 2 on Billboard 200 Chart, The Weeknd Spends Third Week at No. 1". Billboard. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
^Caulfield, Keith (January 22, 2017). "The xx Debuts at No. 2 on Billboard 200 Chart, The Weeknd Holds at No. 1". Billboard. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
^Caulfield, Keith (January 29, 2017). "John Mayer Debuts at No. 2 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart, The Weeknd Reigns at No. 1". Billboard. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
^Caulfield, Keith (February 12, 2017). "Big Sean Scores Second No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'I Decided.'". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
^Caulfield, Keith (February 19, 2017). "'Fifty Shades Darker' Soundtrack Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
^Caulfield, Keith (March 5, 2017). "Future Makes History With Back-to-Back No. 1 Debuts on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
^Caulfield, Keith (March 12, 2017). "Ed Sheeran's 'Divide' Bows at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart With 2017's Biggest Debut". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
^Caulfield, Keith (March 19, 2017). "Ed Sheeran's 'Divide' Spends Second Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200, 'Beauty and the Beast' Debuts at No. 3". Billboard. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
^Caulfield, Keith (April 2, 2017). "Drake's 'More Life' Spends Second Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200, Trey Songz Debuts at No. 3". Billboard. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
^Caulfield, Keith (April 22, 2017). "Kendrick Lamar Earns Third No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 With Biggest Debut of 2017". Billboard. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
^Caulfield, Keith (April 30, 2017). "Kendrick Lamar's 'DAMN.' Spends Second Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200, Incubus & 'Guardians 2' Debut in Top 10". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
^Caulfield, Keith (May 8, 2017). "Kendrick Lamar's 'DAMN.' No. 1 for Third Week on Billboard 200, Gorillaz Bow at No. 2". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
^Caulfield, Keith (May 28, 2017). "Linkin Park Scores Sixth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'One More Light'". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
^Caulfield, Keith (June 4, 2017). "Bryson Tiller Notches His First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'True to Self'". Billboard. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
^Caulfield, Keith (June 11, 2017). "Halsey Earns First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Hopeless Fountain Kingdom'". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
^Caulfield, Keith (July 9, 2017). "DJ Khaled Spends Second Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200, Calvin Harris Debuts at No. 2". Billboard. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
^Caulfield, Keith (July 23, 2017). "JAY-Z's '4:44' Spends Second Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart, French Montana Debuts at No. 3". Billboard. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
^Caulfield, Keith (August 2, 2017). "Lana Del Rey Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart, Tyler, The Creator and Meek Mill Bow at Nos. 2 & 3". Billboard. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
^Caulfield, Keith (August 6, 2017). "Arcade Fire's 'Everything Now' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
^Caulfield, Keith (August 13, 2017). "Kendrick Lamar's 'DAMN.' Returns to No. 1 on Billboard 200, Brett Eldredge Debuts at No. 2". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
^Caulfield, Keith (August 27, 2017). "Brand New Scores First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Science Fiction'". Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
^Caulfield, Keith (September 3, 2017). "Lil Uzi Vert's 'Luv Is Rage 2' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
^Caulfield, Keith (September 10, 2017). "LCD Soundsystem Earns First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'American Dream'". Billboard. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
^Caulfield, Keith (September 18, 2017). "Thomas Rhett Earns First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart & Country's First of 2017". Billboard. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
^Caulfield, Keith (September 24, 2017). "Foo Fighters Score Second No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 With 'Concrete and Gold'". Billboard. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
^Caulfield, Keith (October 1, 2017). "The Killers Earn First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart with 'Wonderful Wonderful'". Billboard. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
^Caulfield, Keith (October 22, 2017). "Pink's 'Beautiful Trauma' Bows at No. 1 on Billboard 200 With 2017's Biggest Debut for a Woman". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
^Caulfield, Keith (November 12, 2017). "Sam Smith's 'The Thrill of It All' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
^Caulfield, Keith (November 20, 2017). "Taylor Swift's 'Reputation' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
^Caulfield, Keith (November 26, 2017). "Taylor Swift's 'Reputation' Album Spends Second Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
^Caulfield, Keith (December 3, 2017). "Taylor Swift's 'Reputation' Spends Third Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
^Caulfield, Keith (December 10, 2017). "U2 Scores Eighth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Songs of Experience'". Billboard. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
^Caulfield, Keith (December 18, 2017). "Luke Bryan Lands Fourth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'What Makes You Country'". Billboard. Retrieved December 18, 2017.