What is Domain Rating?

Domain Rating (DR) is an Ahrefs metric measuring backlink profile strength on a logarithmic 0-100 scale. Higher DR means more authoritative and diverse backlinks.

How is DR calculated?

DR considers the quantity and quality of external backlinks, the DR of linking domains, and how many other sites each linking domain links to. The scale is logarithmic.

What's a good Domain Rating?

For small-to-medium businesses, DR 30-50 is solid. Major brands reach DR 70-90+. Compare your DR to competitors ranking for your target keywords rather than aiming for an absolute number.

Is Domain Rating the same as Domain Authority?

No. DR is Ahrefs' metric; Domain Authority (DA) is Moz's. Both measure backlink strength on a 0-100 scale but use different formulas and data sources.

Yes. Unlimited checks powered by the Ahrefs public API. No signup, no daily limits. Results are cached 24 hours for speed.

Domain Rating Checker

Check the Domain Rating (DR) of any website instantly. See how strong a site's backlink profile is on a 0-100 scale.

Domain

How to Use Domain Rating

Domain Rating is a relative metric - it tells you how a site's backlink profile compares to others in the Ahrefs index. Use it primarily for competitive analysis: compare your DR to sites ranking for your target keywords to gauge whether you need more link building investment.

Remember that DR alone does not determine rankings. A page on a DR 30 site can outrank a DR 80 site if it has better content, more relevant page-level backlinks, and stronger topical authority. DR is one input, not the full picture.

Compare against SERP competitors

Check the DR of the top 10 results for your target keyword. If they are all DR 60+ and you are DR 20, you need a realistic link building plan before targeting that keyword.

Track DR over time

Monitor your DR monthly. Consistent growth of 1-3 points per month indicates healthy link acquisition. Sudden drops may signal lost backlinks or a Google penalty.

DR is logarithmic

Going from DR 10 to 20 is much easier than going from 70 to 80. Each point at the top requires exponentially more high-quality links. Do not compare absolute gains across ranges.

Page-level metrics matter too

A single page can outperform its domain's DR if it has strong page-level backlinks. Use DR for domain-level analysis, but check URL Rating (UR) for page-level competitive analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Domain Rating and backlink authority.

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