Domain Rating (DR)

Domain Rating (DR) is a metric used in the field of digital marketing and search engine optimization (SEO) to assess the authority and strength of an entire domain or website. Introduced by Ahrefs, a prominent SEO tool provider, Domain Rating is represented as a numerical score ranging from 0 to 100. Similar to other authority metrics, a higher DR indicates a stronger and more authoritative online presence.

Ahrefs calculates Domain Rating by analyzing the quantity and quality of backlinks pointing to a domain. The metric considers factors such as the diversity of linking domains and the overall link profile. Websites with a higher number of high-quality backlinks from diverse sources are likely to have a higher Domain Rating, indicating to search engines that they are reliable and offer valuable content.

Expert Tip:

"In 2026, chasing a high DR through sheer volume is a legacy tactic. To truly move the needle, focus on Niche Relevancy; a single link from a DR 40 site within your specific industry vertical often carries more 'trust weight' than a generic DR 80 link that lacks topical alignment with your content."