For musicians, landing an album on the Billboard 200 is a significant achievement. Since the 1940s, this iconic chart has ranked the top music albums in the United States. Unlike other ranking systems that assess albums differently, the Billboard 200 is based on a formula combining album sales and streaming data to determine its standings.
When Billboard first started ranking the most popular albums in 1945, only five albums made it on the list. The ranking system and type of chart changed plenty of times over the years, but it didn’t become a list of the “Top 200 Albums” until the 1980s.
Some artists made it on the list once while other artists, like The Beatles and Taylor Swift, have had four or five Billboard 200 albums. Even though having an album rank on the Billboard Charts is an accomplishment in itself, an even greater accomplishment is having an album that stays on the chart for years.
Out of all the albums that stayed on the Billboard 200 the longest, certain artists made the list several times. Billie Eilish had two albums on the list and four of Taylor Swift’s albums topped the Billboard 200 for over 200 weeks. (After this article, check out The Biggest Debut Albums in Music History.)
Methodology:
To determine the albums that stayed the longest on the Billboard 200, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on historical chart performance from the Billboard 200. Albums were ranked based on the total time spent at any position on the Billboard 200. Chart data is current through June 1, 2024.
Here is the list of the albums that stayed the longest on the Billboard 200:
100. Mac Miller, “Swimming” (2018)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 251 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 3 (for 1 week)
99. Billie Eilish, “Dont Smile At Me” (2017)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 253 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 14 (for 1 week)
98. Original London Cast Recording, “The Phantom Of The Opera” (1987)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 255 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 33 (for 1 week)
97. Guns N’ Roses, “Appetite For Destruction” (1987)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 259 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 5 weeks)
96. Foo Fighters, “Greatest Hits” (2009)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 260 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 11 (for 1 week)
95. Lynyrd Skynyrd, “All Time Greatest Hits” (2013)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 261 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 56 (for 1 week)
94. Taylor Swift, “Fearless” (2008)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 261 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 11 weeks)
93. Pearl Jam, “Ten” (1992)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 265 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 2 (for 4 weeks)
92. Tim McGraw, “Number One Hits” (2010)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 268 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 27 (for 1 week)
91. Future, “DS2” (2015)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 268 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 1 week)
90. Johnny Cash, “The Legend Of Johnny Cash” (2005)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 269 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 5 (for 1 week)
89. Juice WRLD, “Death Race For Love” (2019)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 269 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 2 weeks)
88. Billie Eilish, “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?” (2019)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 269 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 3 weeks)
87. Florida Georgia Line, “Here’s To The Good Times” (2012)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 270 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 4 (for 1 week)
86. Kanye West, “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” (2010)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 272 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 1 week)
85. XXXTENTACION, “17” (2017)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 276 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 2 (for 1 week)
84. Enigma, “MCMXC A.D.” (1991)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 282 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 6 (for 2 weeks)
83. Taylor Swift, “Taylor Swift” (2006)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 284 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 5 (for 2 weeks)
82. George Strait, “50 Number Ones” (2004)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 285 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 2 weeks)
81. Travis Scott, “Birds In The Trap Sing McKnight” (2016)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 285 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 1 week)
80. Led Zeppelin, “Led Zeppelin IV” (1971)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 287 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 2 (for 4 weeks)
79. Khalid, “American Teen” (2017)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 287 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 4 (for 1 week)
78. Led Zeppelin, “Mothership” (2007)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 291 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 7 (for 1 week)
77. Fleetwood Mac, “Greatest Hits” (1988)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 291 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 14 (for 1 week)
76. Post Malone, “beerbongs & bentleys” (2018)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 293 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 3 weeks)
75. Zac Brown Band, “The Foundation” (2008)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 294 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 9 (for 1 week)
74. Taylor Swift, “reputation” (2017)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 295 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)
73. Morgan Wallen, “If I Know Me” (2018)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 295 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 10 (for 1 week)
72. Kid Cudi, “Man On The Moon: The End Of Day” (2009)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 297 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 4 (for 1 week)
71. The Weeknd, “Beauty Behind The Madness” (2015)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 302 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 3 weeks)
70. Travis Scott, “ASTROWORLD” (2018)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 303 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 3 weeks)
69. Arctic Monkeys, “AM” (2013)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 304 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 6 (for 1 week)
68. Drake, “Scorpion” (2018)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 308 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 5 weeks)
67. Ed Sheeran, “x” (2014)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 313 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 1 week)
66. Red Hot Chili Peppers, “Greatest Hits” (2003)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 314 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 18 (for 1 week)
65. Imagine Dragons, “Evolve” (2017)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 314 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 2 (for 1 week)
64. Juice WRLD, “Goodbye & Good Riddance” (2018)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 314 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 4 (for 1 week)
63. Carole King, “Tapestry” (1971)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 318 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 15 weeks)
62. XXXTENTACION, “?” (2018)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 318 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 1 week)
61. Hozier, “Hozier” (2014)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 319 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 2 (for 1 week)
60. Eminem, “Recovery” (2010)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 322 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 7 weeks)
59. ABBA, “Gold: Greatest Hits” (1993)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 327 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 25 (for 1 week)
58. Kanye West, “Graduation” (2007)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 329 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 1 week)
57. Billy Joel, “The Essential Billy Joel” (2001)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 331 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 15 (for 1 week)
56. Original London Cast Recording, “The Phantom Of The Opera: Highlights” (1990)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 331 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 46 (for 1 week)
55. The Beach Boys, “Sounds Of Summer: The Very Best Of The Beach Boys” (2003)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 338 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 16 (for 1 week)
54. Linkin Park, “[Hybrid Theory]” (2000)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 338 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 2 (for 4 weeks)
53. Elton John, “Diamonds” (2017)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 340 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 7 (for 1 week)
52. The Weeknd, “Starboy” (2016)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 341 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 5 weeks)
51. twenty one pilots, “Blurryface” (2015)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 342 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 1 week)
50. Bon Jovi, “Greatest Hits: The Ultimate Collection” (2010)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 345 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 5 (for 1 week)
49. Lil Uzi Vert, “Luv Is Rage 2” (2017)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 351 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 1 week)
48. Drake, “More Life” (2017)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 357 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 3 weeks)
47. Post Malone, “Stoney” (2016)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 360 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 4 (for 5 weeks)
46. SZA, “Ctrl” (2017)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 362 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 3 (for 1 week)
45. Luke Combs, “This One’s For You” (2017)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 363 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 4 (for 1 week)
44. The Notorious B.I.G., “Greatest Hits” (2007)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 365 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 1 week)
43. Lady Gaga, “The Fame” (2008)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 366 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 2 (for 1 week)
42. Ed Sheeran, “÷ (Divide)” (2017)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 369 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 2 weeks)
41. Kendrick Lamar, “DAMN.” (2017)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 370 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)
40. Bryson Tiller, “T R A P S O U L” (2015)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 371 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 8 (for 1 week)
39. Sam Smith, “In The Lonely Hour” (2014)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 371 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 2 (for 2 weeks)
38. Soundtrack, “Moana” (2016)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 372 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 2 (for 1 week)
37. Katy Perry, “Teenage Dream” (2010)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 374 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 1 week)
36. Frank Ocean, “Blonde” (2016)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 383 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 1 week)
35. Zac Brown Band, “Greatest Hits So Far…” (2014)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 387 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 20 (for 1 week)
34. Imagine Dragons, “Night Visions” (2012)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 413 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 2 (for 1 week)
33. Drake, “Views” (2016)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 418 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 13 weeks)
32. Rihanna, “ANTI” (2016)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 420 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 2 weeks)
31. The Rolling Stones, “Hot Rocks 1964-1971” (1972)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 433 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 4 (for 2 weeks)
30. Eminem, “The Eminem Show” (2002)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 441 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 6 weeks)
29. Eagles, “Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975” (1976)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 447 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 5 weeks)
28. Original Broadway Cast, “Hamilton: An American Musical” (2015)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 451 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 2 (for 1 week)
27. Chris Stapleton, “Traveller” (2015)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 453 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 2 weeks)
26. Michael Jackson, “The Essential Michael Jackson” (2005)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 474 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 31 (for 1 week)
25. The Beatles, “Abbey Road” (1969)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 489 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 11 weeks)
24. Taylor Swift, “1989” (2014)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 492 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 11 weeks)
23. J. Cole, “2014 Forest Hills Drive” (2014)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 493 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 1 week)
22. Drake, “Nothing Was The Same” (2013)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 506 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 1 week)
21. Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band, “Greatest Hits” (1994)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 522 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 8 (for 1 week)
20. 2Pac, “Greatest Hits” (1998)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 522 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 3 (for 1 week)
19. Lana Del Rey, “Born To Die” (2012)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 537 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 2 (for 1 week)
18. The Beatles, “1” (2000)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 542 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 8 weeks)
17. Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers, “Greatest Hits” (1993)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 571 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 2 (for 2 weeks)
16. Fleetwood Mac, “Rumours” (1977)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 581 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 31 weeks)
15. Drake, “Take Care” (2011)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 585 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 1 week)
14. Queen, “Greatest Hits” (1981)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 596 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 8 (for 1 week)
13. Kendrick Lamar, “good kid, m.A.A.d city” (2012)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 603 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 2 (for 1 week)
12. Adele, “21” (2011)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 604 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 24 weeks)
11. AC/DC, “Back In Black” (1980)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 606 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 4 (for 3 weeks)
10. Michael Jackson, “Thriller” (1982)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 626 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 37 weeks)
9. Creedence Clearwater Revival, “Chronicle The 20 Greatest Hits” (2010)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 629 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 18 (for 1 week)
8. Nirvana, “Nevermind” (1991)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 670 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 2 weeks)
7. Guns N’ Roses, “Greatest Hits” (2004)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 676 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 3 (for 2 weeks)
6. Bruno Mars, “Doo-Wops & Hooligans” (2010)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 677 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 3 (for 2 weeks)
5. Eminem, “Curtain Call: The Hits” (2005)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 684 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 2 weeks)
4. Metallica, “Metallica” (1991)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 745 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)
3. Journey, “Journey’s Greatest Hits” (1988)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 805 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 10 (for 2 weeks)
2. Bob Marley And The Wailers, “Legend: The Best Of…” (1984)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 808 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 5 (for 1 week)
1. Pink Floyd, “The Dark Side Of The Moon” (1973)
- Total time on Billboard 200: 989 weeks
- Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 1 week)