Most Popular Christmas Albums of All Time

‘Tis the season for the sounds of jingling bells and holiday tunes dominating the airwaves. Whether you can’t get enough or can’t wait for January to roll around, it’s undeniable that Christmas music is beloved by many. (These are the most popular Christmas songs of all time.)

The modern Christmas album has been around since Bing Crosby released the first of his two “Merry Christmas” albums in 1942. Since then, countless musicians have put out their own holiday song collections.

To determine the most popular Christmas albums of all time, 24/7 Tempo reviewed performance data on the Billboard 200 charts. Holiday albums were ranked based on an inverse score wherein a week at No. 1 is worth 200 points, a week at No. 2 worth 199 points, and so on, up to a week at No. 200 worth one point. Chart data is current through the week of Dec. 16, 2023.

This list includes many classic crooners like Perry Como, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin, Andy Williams, Frank Sinatra, and of course, Bing Crosby, who has three albums in the top 50. Also featured are the Vince Guaraldi Trio’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas” jazz soundtrack, which was released in 1965, and multiple albums by Mannheim Steamroller and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Modern pop singers who have top Christmas albums include the a cappella group Pentatonix, with three albums in the top 20, as well as Josh Groban, Justin Bieber, Celine Dion, and Michael Buble. As Brenda Lee and Mariah Carey’s hit Christmas singles currently battle it out for the No. 1 spot on the Hot 100 chart, Mariah Carey’s Christmas album also has some competition on our list, with a more recent pop album beating Maria Carey for the No. 1 spot. (These are the  best-selling albums since 2000.)

Here are the 50 most popular Christmas albums of all time:

50. Various Artists, “NOW That’s What I Call Christmas! 4”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 28 (for 1 week)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 24 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: November 6, 2010

49. Martina McBride, “White Christmas”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 64 (for 1 week)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 40 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: November 28, 1998

48. Andy Williams, “Classic Christmas Album”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 23 (for 1 week)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 27 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: December 21, 2013

47. Mannheim Steamroller, “A Fresh Aire Christmas”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 36 (for 3 weeks)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 24 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: November 26, 1988

46. Mannheim Steamroller, “Christmas In The Aire”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 3 (for 1 week)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 18 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: September 30, 1995

45. Mannheim Steamroller, “Christmas: 25th Anniversary Collection”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 29 (for 1 week)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 29 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: October 31, 2009

44. Perry Como, “The Classic Christmas Album”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 17 (for 1 week)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 22 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: December 16, 2017

43. Lady Antebellum, “A Merry Little Christmas (EP)”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 12 (for 1 week)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 22 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: October 30, 2010

42. Trans-Siberian Orchestra, “The Christmas Attic”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 60 (for 2 weeks)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 47 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: December 12, 1998

41. John Legend, “A Legendary Christmas”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 22 (for 1 week)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 29 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: November 10, 2018

40. George Michael & Wham!, “Last Christmas (Soundtrack)”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 23 (for 1 week)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 27 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: November 23, 2019

39. Mannheim Steamroller, “Mannheim Steamroller Christmas”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 50 (for 1 week)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 39 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: December 22, 1984

38. Carpenters, “Christmas Portrait”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 56 (for 1 week)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 64 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: December 9, 1978

37. Carrie Underwood, “My Gift”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 5 (for 1 week)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 28 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: October 10, 2020

36. Susan Boyle, “The Gift”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 33 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: November 27, 2010

35. Various Artists, “A Very Special Christmas”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 20 (for 3 weeks)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 34 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: November 14, 1987

34. New Kids On The Block, “Merry, Merry Christmas”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 9 (for 1 week)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 28 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: October 14, 1989

33. Bing Crosby, “The Best Of Bing Crosby: 20th Century Masters: The Christmas Collection”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 14 (for 1 week)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 46 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: November 24, 2012

32. Garth Brooks, “Beyond The Season”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 2 (for 1 week)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 24 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: September 12, 1992

31. Brenda Lee, “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree: The Decca Christmas Recordings”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 16 (for 1 week)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 28 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: January 6, 2018

30. Dean Martin, “The Dean Martin Christmas Album”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 29 (for 1 week)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 34 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: December 23, 2017

29. Andy Williams, “The Andy Williams Christmas Album”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 14 (for 2 weeks)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 32 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: December 15, 2018

28. Casting Crowns, “Peace On Earth”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 15 (for 2 weeks)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 44 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: October 25, 2008

27. Various Artists, “The Essential NOW That’s What I Call Christmas”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 25 (for 1 week)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 46 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: November 8, 2008

26. Gene Autry, “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer And Other Christmas Classics”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 21 (for 2 weeks)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 33 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: January 6, 2018

25. Bing Crosby, “White Christmas”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 27 (for 1 week)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 57 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: December 19, 2009

24. Taylor Swift, “The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection (EP)”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 20 (for 2 weeks)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 43 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: December 8, 2007

23. Elvis Presley, “The Classic Christmas Album”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 26 (for 1 week)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 57 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: November 24, 2012

22. Blake Shelton, “Cheers, It’s Christmas”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 8 (for 2 weeks)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 43 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: October 20, 2012

21. Chris Tomlin, “Glory In The Highest: Christmas Songs Of Worship”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 19 (for 2 weeks)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 47 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: October 24, 2009

20. Various Artists, “A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 8 (for 1 week)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 35 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: December 15, 2018

19. Pentatonix, “The Best Of Pentatonix Christmas”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 7 (for 2 weeks)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 35 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: November 9, 2019

18. Burl Ives, “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 15 (for 1 week)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 58 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: December 19, 2009

17. Frank Sinatra, “Ultimate Christmas”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 12 (for 1 week)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 41 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: December 2, 2017

16. Pentatonix, “A Pentatonix Christmas”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 2 weeks)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 49 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: November 12, 2016

15. Bing Crosby, “Christmas Classics”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 12 (for 1 week)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 53 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: December 19, 2009

14. Trans-Siberian Orchestra, “Christmas Eve And Other Stories”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 48 (for 1 week)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 76 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: December 28, 1996

13. Celine Dion, “These Are Special Times”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 2 (for 2 weeks)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 78 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: November 21, 1998

12. Andrea Bocelli, “My Christmas”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 2 (for 5 weeks)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 52 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: November 21, 2009

11. Justin Bieber, “Under The Mistletoe”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 1 week)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 66 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: November 19, 2011

10. Trans-Siberian Orchestra, “The Lost Christmas Eve”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 26 (for 1 week)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 64 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: October 30, 2004

9. Pentatonix, “That’s Christmas To Me”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 2 (for 2 weeks)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 56 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: November 8, 2014

8. Elvis Presley, “It’s Christmas Time”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 25 (for 1 week)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 75 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: December 5, 2009

7. Kelly Clarkson, “Wrapped In Red”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 3 (for 3 weeks)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 65 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: November 16, 2013

6. Nat King Cole, “The Christmas Song”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 5 (for 1 week)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 77 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: December 19, 2009

5. George Winston, “December”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 54 (for 1 week)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 178 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: March 12, 1983

4. Josh Groban, “Noel”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 5 weeks)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 109 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: October 27, 2007

3. Vince Guaraldi Trio, “A Charlie Brown Christmas (Soundtrack)”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 6 (for 1 week)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 111 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: December 5, 2009

2. Mariah Carey, “Merry Christmas”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 3 (for 1 week)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 120 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: November 19, 1994

1. Michael Buble, “Christmas”

• Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 5 weeks)
• Total time spent on Billboard 200: 113 weeks
• Entered Billboard 200: November 12, 2011