Domain Rating Ahrefs
Ahrefs Domain Rating (DR) is a proprietary 0-100 metric that estimates the relative strength of a website’s backlink profile compared with other sites in Ahrefs’ database.
- Also called
- DR
- Measured by
- Ahrefs
- Typical range
- 0 to 100
Key points
- DR is a relative metric that compares a domain's backlink profile strength against all other domains in Ahrefs' index.
- It is logarithmic, meaning moving from 90 to 91 requires significantly more link equity than moving from 10 to 11.
- DR is not a Google ranking factor and should not be used as a direct measure of organic traffic or site quality.
- Unique referring domains matter more than total backlinks when influencing DR.
- Use DR as a trend or comparison tool, not as a standalone KPI for SEO success.
How the tools differ
| Metric | What it measures | Scale | Data source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ahrefs Domain Rating (DR) | Strength of a domain's backlink profile, weighted by quantity and quality of unique referring domains | 0-100 (logarithmic) | Ahrefs' own web index |
| Ahrefs Rank (AR) | A domain's rank in Ahrefs' index based on backlink profile strength | 1 to N (ordinal) | Ahrefs' own web index |
| Moz Domain Authority (DA) | Predicted likelihood of a domain ranking in search results | 0-100 (logarithmic) | Moz's index and machine learning model |
| Majestic Trust Flow | Quality of backlinks based on trustworthiness of linking domains | 0-100 | Majestic's index |
Where it changes your decision
- When evaluating link-building targets: a site with a DR of 60 or higher may pass more link equity than one with DR 20, but relevance and traffic should also be checked.
- When comparing competitors: if a rival has a DR of 75 and your site has DR 45, the gap suggests a need to acquire more unique referring domains from authoritative sources.
- When prioritising outreach: filter prospects by DR to focus on domains that are likely to strengthen your backlink profile, but verify that the site is still active and topically relevant.
What it is not
- DR is not a Google ranking factor. Google does not use Ahrefs data in its algorithm.
- DR is not a measure of organic traffic. A site can have high DR but low traffic if it has few pages or poor content.
- DR is not a stable absolute score. It can change when Ahrefs updates its index or when other domains gain or lose links.
- DR is not a complete measure of site quality. It ignores content, user experience, and page-level signals.
Common mistakes
- Treating DR as a Google ranking factor: leads to misplaced confidence in link-building efforts that may not affect search performance.
- Comparing DR across different niches without context: a DR 40 in a competitive industry may be stronger than DR 60 in a niche with fewer linking opportunities.
- Chasing DR increases by buying low-quality links: can result in a higher score but risks Google penalties and wasted budget.
- Using DR alone to judge site quality: ignores traffic, topical relevance, and page-level metrics, leading to poor outreach decisions.
Questions people ask
What is a good domain rating?
A good domain rating depends on your niche and competition. In competitive industries like finance or health, a DR of 60 or higher may be considered strong, while in smaller niches a DR of 30 can be sufficient. The most useful benchmark is the average DR of your top-ranking competitors.
How to increase domain rating?
To increase domain rating, focus on earning backlinks from unique, high-quality referring domains. Create valuable content that naturally attracts links, use guest posting on relevant sites, and disavow toxic links that may harm your profile. Avoid buying links or using link farms, as these can lead to penalties.
What is Ahrefs domain rating?
Ahrefs Domain Rating (DR) is a proprietary metric that estimates the relative strength of a website's backlink profile on a 0-100 scale. It is calculated by Ahrefs based on the quantity and quality of unique referring domains linking to the site. DR is logarithmic, so higher scores are harder to achieve.
What is a good domain rating Ahrefs?
A good Ahrefs Domain Rating varies by industry. For most websites, a DR above 50 is considered decent, while DR above 70 is strong. Check the average DR of your competitors in Ahrefs to set a realistic target for your niche.
Sources
- Ahrefs Help Center: What is Domain Rating (DR)? Primary source for Ahrefs’ definition and high-level explanation of how DR is scaled.
- Ahrefs Glossary: Domain Rating Concise official definition stating DR is a proprietary metric on a logarithmic 0-100 scale.
- Ahrefs Blog: Domain Rating: What It Is & What It's Good For Official explainer on what DR measures and what it is useful for.
- Google Search Central Useful for contrasting third-party metrics with Google’s actual search systems and ranking concepts.
Written and maintained by Nora Lindholm. Last updated 27 July 2026.
Spotted an error? Email me — corrections are logged and credited on the entry. Outbound links are unpaid; most are nofollow.