KPOP DISCOVER

K-pop glossary

Billboard 200

Billboard's weekly ranking of the most popular albums in the United States, measured in album-equivalent units.

Category: Charts and records

Last updated

Meaning

The Billboard 200 ranks albums in the United States every week using album-equivalent units. One unit equals one album sold, ten tracks from the album sold individually, or a set number of on-demand streams of its songs. Billboard began ranking by units in December 2014, and from the chart dated January 17, 2026, one unit takes 2,500 ad-supported or 1,000 paid streams. Units are therefore not the same as copies sold, and totals from before 2026 are not directly comparable. Stray Kids became the first act whose first six entries all debuted at No. 1 with HOP.

Usage

Used for album performance in the U.S.: "topped the Billboard 200 in its first week." Do not mix it up with the Hot 100, which ranks songs.

Examples

  • HOP — Debuted at No. 1 on the chart dated December 28, 2024, making Stray Kids the first act whose first six entries all debuted at No. 1.
  • BORN PINK — Opened with 102,000 units for BLACKPINK's first No. 1 on the chart.

In context

Related pagesArtists Find a termBack to glossary

Sources