Top singles – Physical sales
Which singles sale the best in physical format? Find exactly the answer you’re looking for in our dynamic ranking for physical singles sales.
If a single has been released several times, all the sales coming from all the releases are added. Remember to use the searching, filtering, and sorting options to make the most out of the ranking!
Please keep in mind that some artists are missing, because their analysis has not been done yet. Here is the complete list of covered artists. All figures reflect the value as collected at the time of the artist’s respective articles.
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Top singles – Physical sales
| # | Single | Year | Artist | Units sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Candle in the Wind | 1997 | Elton John for The Diana Foundation | 29,730,000 |
| 2 | I Will Always Love You | 1992 | Whitney Houston | 10,560,000 |
| 3 | You're the One That I Want | 1978 | John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John | 10,400,000 |
| 4 | Hey Jude | 1968 | The Beatles | 9,472,500 |
| 5 | (Everything I Do) I Do It for You | 1991 | Bryan Adams | 7,960,000 |
| 6 | My Sweet Lord | 1970 | George Harrison | 7,757,500 |
| 7 | I Just Called to Say I Love You | 1984 | Stevie Wonder | 7,398,500 |
| 8 | I Want To Hold Your Hand | 1963 | The Beatles | 7,136,000 |
| 9 | Believe | 1998 | Cher | 7,020,000 |
| 10 | My Heart Will Go On | 1997 | Céline Dion | 6,910,000 |
| 11 | Stayin' Alive | 1977 | Bee Gees | 6,470,000 |
| 12 | Let It Be | 1970 | The Beatles | 6,312,500 |
| 13 | Careless Whisper | 1984 | George Michael | 6,290,000 |
| 14 | Woman in Love | 1980 | Barbra Streisand | 6,260,000 |
| 15 | Da Ya Think I'm Sexy? | 1978 | Rod Stewart | 6,250,000 |
| 16 | Flashdance... What a Feeling | 1983 | Irene Cara | 6,240,000 |
| 17 | Mull Of Kintyre | 1977 | Paul McCartney | 6,190,000 |
| 18 | Bohemian Rhapsody | 1975 | Queen | 6,182,500 |
| 19 | Another Brick in the Wall (Part II) | 1979 | Pink Floyd | 5,750,000 |
| 20 | Too Much Heaven | 1978 | Bee Gees | 5,640,000 |
| 21 | Night Fever | 1977 | Bee Gees | 5,520,000 |
| 22 | Let's Dance | 1983 | David Bowie | 5,500,000 |
| 23 | Ebony And Ivory | 1982 | Paul McCartney_Stevie Wonder | 5,452,500 |
| 24 | It's Now Or Never | 1960 | Elvis Presley | 5,420,000 |
| 25 | Get Back | 1969 | The Beatles | 5,417,500 |
| 26 | She Loves You | 1963 | The Beatles | 5,400,000 |
| 27 | Don't Be Cruel | 1956 | Elvis Presley | 5,390,000 |
| 28 | Imagine | 1971 | John Lennon | 5,378,750 |
| 29 | Dancing Queen | 1976 | ABBA | 5,350,000 |
| 30 | ...Baby One More Time | 1998 | Britney Spears | 5,330,000 |
| 31 | Another One Bites the Dust | 1980 | Queen | 5,267,500 |
| 32 | (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction | 1965 | The Rolling Stones | 5,200,000 |
| 33 | We Are the Champions | 1977 | Queen | 5,190,500 |
| 34 | Tragedy | 1979 | Bee Gees | 5,050,000 |
| 35 | Wannabe | 1996 | Spice Girls | 5,050,000 |
| 36 | Strangers In The Night | 1966 | Frank Sinatra | 4,995,000 |
| 37 | Last Christmas | 1984 | Wham! | 4,980,000 |
| 38 | Upside Down | 1980 | Diana Ross | 4,978,000 |
| 39 | Say Say Say | 1983 | Michael Jackson_Paul McCartney | 4,952,500 |
| 40 | Summer Nights | 1978 | John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John | 4,900,000 |
| 41 | How Deep Is Your Love | 1977 | Bee Gees | 4,890,000 |
| 42 | Billie Jean | 1982 | Michael Jackson | 4,870,000 |
| 43 | (Just Like) Starting Over | 1980 | John Lennon | 4,780,000 |
| 44 | Ebony and Ivory | 1982 | Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder | 4,735,000 |
| 45 | We Can Work It Out | 1965 | The Beatles | 4,712,500 |
| 46 | Something | 1969 | The Beatles | 4,482,500 |
| 47 | Are You Lonesome Tonight? | 1960 | Elvis Presley | 4,450,000 |
| 48 | Don't Go Breaking My Heart | 1975 | Elton John & Kiki Dee | 4,420,000 |
| 49 | Beat It | 1982 | Michael Jackson | 4,410,000 |
| 50 | Like A Virgin | 1984 | Madonna | 4,360,000 |
| Single | Year | Artist |
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