List of best-selling Christmas singles in the United States
This page shows the best-selling Christmas singles in the United States. It includes artists from around the world, but it only reflects sales in the United States of America. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby is not only the best-selling Christmas/holiday single in the United States, but also the best-selling single of all time, with estimated sales in excess of 50 million copies worldwide.[1][2][3][4]
Prior to March 1, 1991, the only means of tracking sales figures for record albums and singles in the United States was via the certification system of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), based specifically on shipments (less potential returns) on a long-term basis. From March 1, 1991, through the present day, the Nielsen SoundScan tracking system has been more widely used to accurately track sales of record albums and singles at the point of sale (POS) based on inventory bar code scans, as well as digital music download sales starting in 2003. As of November 25, 2016, the holiday single with the most digital downloads is Mariah Carey's 1994 track "All I Want for Christmas Is You", which SoundScan estimates as having sold 3,200,000 copies.[5]
Best-selling Christmas/holiday singles by Nielsen SoundScan data[]
This is a list of the top ten best-selling Christmas singles of the SoundScan era in the United States according to the Nielsen Company, as last updated on November 25, 2016.[5] Nielsen SoundScan began tracking digital download sales data at the end of June 2003.
Best-selling Christmas singles[]
Rank | Title | Artist | Released | Label | Digital downloads |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "All I Want for Christmas Is You" | Mariah Carey | 1994 | Columbia | 3,200,000 |
2 | "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" | Kristen Bell, Agatha Lee Monn & Katie Lopez | 2013 | Walt Disney | 1,600,000 |
3 | "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24" | Savatage (later credited to Trans-Siberian Orchestra, which featured all Savatage members) | 1996 | Lava | 1,300,000 |
4 | "Mistletoe" | Justin Bieber | 2011 | Island | 1,100,000 |
5 | "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" | Brenda Lee | 1958 | Decca | 1,000,000 |
6 | "Where Are You Christmas?" | Faith Hill | 2000 | Interscope | 977,000[6] |
7 | "Christmas Canon" | Trans-Siberian Orchestra | 1998 | Lava | 918,000 |
8 | "Feliz Navidad" | José Feliciano | 1970 | RCA | 808,000 |
9 | "Jingle Bell Rock" | Bobby Helms | 1957 | Decca | 780,000 |
10 | "Last Christmas" | Wham! | 1984 | Columbia | 751,000 |
Best-selling Christmas/holiday singles by RIAA certification[]
This is an incomplete list of the best-selling Christmas/holiday singles in the United States based on certification by the RIAA. This list provides a more complete representation of the best-selling Christmas/holiday albums in history, as it includes those released well before the Nielsen/SoundScan era of music sales.
Digital singles[]
Year of release | Title | Artist | Label | Certification award[7] | Certification date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1994 | "All I Want for Christmas Is You" | Mariah Carey | Columbia | 8x Multi-Platinum | 2020-12-14 |
2013 | "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" | Kristen Bell, Agatha Lee Monn & Katie Lopez | Walt Disney | 3x Multi-Platinum | 2020-11-30 |
2011 | "Mistletoe" | Justin Bieber | Island | 3x Multi-Platinum | 2021-01-11 |
1984 | "Last Christmas" | Wham! | Columbia | 2x Multi-Platinum | 2019-12-12 |
2016 | "Hallelujah" | Pentatonix | RCA | Platinum | 2018-02-09 |
2014 | "Mary, Did You Know" | Pentatonix | RCA | Platinum | 2018-02-09 |
1965 | "Christmas Time Is Here" | Vince Guaraldi Trio | Fantasy | Platinum | 2019-01-31 |
1958 | "Run Rudolph Run" | Chuck Berry | Geffen | Platinum | 2020-11-18 |
2018 | "What Christmas Means to Me" | John Legend (Featuring Stevie Wonder) | Columbia | Gold | 2020-09-17 |
2017 | "You Make It Feel Like Christmas" | Gwen Stefani (Featuring Blake Shelton) | Interscope | Gold | 2020-12-10 |
2014 | "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" | Sam Smith | Capitol | Gold | 2020-02-11 |
2011 | "All I Want for Christmas Is You (SuperFestive!)" | Justin Bieber with Mariah Carey | Island | Gold | 2020-06-25 |
2008 | "This Christmas" | Chris Brown | RCA | Gold | 2017-11-22 |
2018 | "Cozy Little Christmas" | Katy Perry | Capitol | Gold | 2022-04-26 |
1996 | "Chanukah Song" | Adam Sandler | Warner Bros. | Gold | 2009-10-05 |
1996 | "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24" | Lava | Gold | 2009-12-14 | |
1994 | "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" | Mariah Carey | Columbia | Gold | 2019-10-09 |
1965 | "Linus and Lucy" | Vince Guaraldi Trio | Fantasy | Gold | 2019-05-10 |
Cellular ringtones[]
Year of release | Title | Artist | Labels | Certification award[8] | Certification date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2006 | "All I Want for Christmas Is You" | Mariah Carey | Columbia | 2x Multi-Platinum | 2009-12-15 |
2003 | "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" | Elmo & Patsy | Legacy/Epic | Gold | 2008-12-10 |
2003 | "Santa Baby" | Eartha Kitt | Legacy | Gold | 2008-12-09 |
Physical singles[]
According to the most recent record album certifications, the holiday single title with the highest RIAA certification is Elvis Presley's 1964 single "Blue Christmas", which is certified Platinum by the RIAA (though its date of certification came more than ten years after the RIAA reduced the threshold for Platinum level for singles from two million copies to one million copies).[9]
Year of release | Title (A-side/B-side) |
Artist(s) | Label | Certification award | Certification date[7] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1964 | "Blue Christmas"/ "Santa Claus Is Back in Town" |
Elvis Presley | RCA Victor | Platinum[9] | 1999-07-15 |
1989 | "This One's for the Children"/ "Funky, Funky Xmas" |
New Kids on the Block | Columbia | Gold[7] | 1990-01-09 |
1985 | "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" | Bruce Springsteen | Columbia | Gold[7] | 1992-05-05 |
1984 | "Do They Know It's Christmas?"/ "Feed the World" |
Band Aid | Columbia | Gold[7] | 1984-12-19 |
1984 | "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" | Elmo & Patsy | Epic | Gold[7] | 1989-12-27 |
1959 | "Alvin's Harmonica"/ "Mediocre" (David Seville) |
The Chipmunks | Liberty | Gold[10] | |
1958 | "The Chipmunk Song"/ "Almost Good" (David Seville) |
The Chipmunks with the Music of David Seville | Liberty | Gold[10] | |
1958 | "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"/ "Papa Noël" |
Brenda Lee | Decca | Gold[11] | |
1957 | "Jingle Bell Rock"/ "Captain Santa Claus (and His Reindeer Space Patrol)" |
Bobby Helms | Decca | Gold[12] | |
1955 | "Nuttin' for Christmas"/ "Santa Claus Looks Just Like Daddy" |
Art Mooney and His Orchestra Vocal by Barry Gordon |
MGM | Gold[13] | |
1952 | "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"/ "Thumbelina" |
Jimmy Boyd | Columbia | Gold[14] | |
1950 | "Frosty the Snow Man"/ "When Santa Claus Gets Your Letter" |
Gene Autry and The Cass County Boys | Columbia | Gold[15] | |
1949 | "I Yust Go Nuts at Christmas"/ "Yingle Bells" |
Yogi Yorgesson | Capitol | Gold[16] | |
1949 | "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer"/ "If It Doesn't Snow on Christmas" |
Gene Autry & The Pinafores | Columbia | Gold[15] | 1969-11-10 |
1948 | "All I Want for Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)"/ "Happy New Year" |
Spike Jones and his City Slickers | RCA Victor | Gold[17] | |
1948 | "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm"/ "I'm A-Tellin' You, Sam" |
Les Brown and his Orchestra | Columbia | Gold[18] | |
1947 | "Here Comes Santa Claus (Down Santa Claus Lane)"/ "An Old-Fashioned Christmas" |
Gene Autry | Columbia | Gold[15] | |
1946 | "Christmas Island"/ "Winter Wonderland" |
Andrews Sisters and Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians | Decca | Gold[19] | |
1946 | "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)"/ "In the Cool of Evening" |
The King Cole Trio | Capitol | Gold[20] | |
1944 | "White Christmas"/ "If You Are But a Dream" |
Frank Sinatra | Columbia | Gold[21] | |
1943 | "I'll Be Home for Christmas (If Only in My Dreams)"/ "Danny Boy" |
Bing Crosby | Decca | Gold[22] | |
1943 | "Jingle Bells"/ "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" |
Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters | Decca | Gold[22] | |
1942 | "White Christmas"/ "Let's Start the New Year Right" |
Bing Crosby | Decca | Gold[23] | |
1942 | "White Christmas"/ "Abraham" |
Freddy Martin and his Orchestra | Victor | Gold[24] | |
1935 | "Silent Night"/ "Adeste Fideles (O Come, All Ye Faithful)" |
Bing Crosby | Decca | Gold[23] |
See also[]
- Christmas music
- List of Christmas hit singles in the United Kingdom
- List of popular Christmas singles in the United States
- List of best-selling Christmas albums in the United States
References[]
- ^ Guinness Book of Records, 2007 Edition, page 187 Archived 2015-03-19 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Guinness Book of Records, 2008 Edition, page 181
- ^ Guinness Book of Records, 2009 Edition, pages 14, 15 & 169 Archived 2013-02-26 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Roy J. Harris, Jr. (December 5, 2009). "The Best-Selling Record of All. 'White Christmas' and the reasons it endures". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved December 6, 2009.
It was a peaceful song that became a wartime classic. Its unorthodox, melancholy melody—and mere 54 words, expressing the simple yearning for a return to happier times—sounded instantly familiar when sung by America's favorite crooner. But 67 years after its introduction, some still are surprised to learn that Bing Crosby's recording of the Irving Berlin ballad "White Christmas" became not only the runaway smash-hit for the World War II holidays, but the best-selling record of all time.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Billboard Staff (November 25, 2016). "What Are the Top-Selling Holiday Songs?". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ^ Bjorke, Matt (December 3, 2018). "Top 30 Digital Country Singles: December 3, 2018". RoughStock. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f "RIAA Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on February 25, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
- ^ "RIAA Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "RIAA Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on February 25, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Whitburn, Joel (2004). Christmas in the Charts (1920–2004). Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 27. ISBN 0-89820-161-6.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Christmas in the Charts (1920–2004). Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 45. ISBN 0-89820-161-6.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Christmas in the Charts (1920–2004). Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 40. ISBN 0-89820-161-6.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Christmas in the Charts (1920–2004). Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 50. ISBN 0-89820-161-6.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Christmas in the Charts (1920–2004). Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 22. ISBN 0-89820-161-6.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Whitburn, Joel (2004). Christmas in the Charts (1920–2004). Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 19. ISBN 0-89820-161-6.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Christmas in the Charts (1920–2004). Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 66. ISBN 0-89820-161-6.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Christmas in the Charts (1920–2004). Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 43. ISBN 0-89820-161-6.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Christmas in the Charts (1920–2004). Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 25. ISBN 0-89820-161-6.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Christmas in the Charts (1920–2004). Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 18. ISBN 0-89820-161-6.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Christmas in the Charts (1920–2004). Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 28. ISBN 0-89820-161-6.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Christmas in the Charts (1920–2004). Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 58. ISBN 0-89820-161-6.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Whitburn, Joel (2004). Christmas in the Charts (1920–2004). Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 31. ISBN 0-89820-161-6.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Whitburn, Joel (2004). Christmas in the Charts (1920–2004). Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 30. ISBN 0-89820-161-6.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Christmas in the Charts (1920–2004). Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 47. ISBN 0-89820-161-6.
- Lists of best-selling albums
- Christmas albums
- Christmas music lists