What Is Domain Rating?
Definition
Domain Rating (DR) is a metric developed by Ahrefs that measures the relative strength of a website's backlink profile on a logarithmic scale from 0 to 100. It focuses specifically on the quantity and quality of dofollow backlinks pointing to a domain.
How DR is calculated
Ahrefs calculates Domain Rating by looking at three factors:
- How many unique domains link to the target. More referring domains generally means higher DR.
- The DR of those linking domains. A link from a DR 80 site contributes more than a link from a DR 10 site.
- How many sites those linking domains also link to. A link from a site that links to millions of domains is "diluted" compared to one that links selectively.
DR uses a logarithmic scale, which means going from DR 20 to 30 is much easier than going from DR 70 to 80. Each point at the higher end requires exponentially more backlinks.
DR vs. Domain Authority
| Feature | Domain Rating (DR) | Domain Authority (DA) |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Ahrefs | Moz |
| Scale | 0–100 (logarithmic) | 1–100 (logarithmic) |
| Primary input | Dofollow backlinks and referring domains | Multiple link-based factors |
| Updates | Real-time as backlink index updates | Monthly recalculations |
| Best for | Evaluating raw backlink profile strength | Comparing overall link-based authority |
Neither DR nor DA is an official Google metric. Both are third-party approximations. Many SEOs check both for a more complete picture.
DR only counts which type of backlinks in its calculation?
Correct! Ahrefs' Domain Rating only factors in dofollow backlinks. Nofollow, sponsored, and UGC links don't count toward DR.
DR specifically measures dofollow backlinks only. Nofollow links are excluded from the calculation entirely. This is different from Domain Authority, which considers broader factors.
What is a good DR?
| DR range | Typical sites |
|---|---|
| 0–20 | New websites, personal blogs with few links |
| 21–40 | Small businesses, growing startups |
| 41–60 | Established companies, mid-size publications |
| 61–80 | Well-known brands, major publications |
| 81–100 | Global brands (Google, Wikipedia, YouTube) |
Why does going from DR 70 to DR 80 require far more effort than going from DR 20 to DR 30?
Exactly! The logarithmic scale means each additional DR point at higher levels requires exponentially more backlinks. It's similar to the Richter scale for earthquakes.
DR uses a logarithmic scale. Just like how a magnitude 7 earthquake is much more powerful than a magnitude 6, each DR point at the top end requires exponentially more backlinks.
How to grow your DR
- Earn backlinks from high-DR domains. Quality matters more than quantity. A single link from a DR 70 site can move the needle more than 100 links from DR 10 sites.
- Grow your referring domain count. DR heavily weighs how many unique domains link to you, not just total link count.
- Focus on dofollow links. DR only counts dofollow backlinks in its calculation.
- Use digital PR and outreach to earn editorial links from authoritative publications in your industry. Tools like Respona and Pitchbox can help manage these campaigns (see our comparison).
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Start Getting Mentioned For $99/moFrequently asked questions
Is Domain Rating a Google ranking factor?
No. Domain Rating is created by Ahrefs, not Google. Google does not use DR in its algorithm. However, DR correlates with ranking ability because it measures backlink strength, which Google does care about.
Why is my DR different from my DA?
They're different metrics from different companies. DR (Ahrefs) focuses specifically on dofollow backlinks. DA (Moz) uses a broader set of link signals. It's normal for the numbers to differ, sometimes significantly.
Can Domain Rating go down?
Yes. DR can drop if you lose referring domains, if linking sites lose their own DR, or if Ahrefs updates its algorithm. It's a relative metric, so changes in the broader web can affect your score even if nothing about your site changed.
How long does it take to increase DR?
It depends on your starting point. Going from DR 0 to 20 can happen in a few months with consistent link building. Going from DR 50 to 60 takes much longer because of the logarithmic scale — each point requires exponentially more backlinks.