How Ahrefs Calculates Domain Rating
Domain Rating uses a logarithmic scale from 0 to 100, where each point represents roughly a 10% increase in backlink strength. Ahrefs evaluates three core factors:
1. Referring domains count: The number of unique domains linking to your site. One link from example.com counts as one referring domain, even if they link to multiple pages. Quality matters more than quantity—100 links from DR 90 sites beat 10,000 links from DR 5 sites.
2. DR of linking domains: Links from high-DR domains pass more authority. A single DR 80 backlink can lift your score more than dozens of DR 20 links. Ahrefs weights each link by the source domain's own DR, creating a compounding effect.
3. Link quality signals: Dofollow links count; nofollow links don't. Editorial placements (articles, guides) carry more weight than directory listings or comments. Spam patterns, link farms, and toxic neighborhoods can reduce or negate value.
Important: DR updates approximately every 3–4 weeks as Ahrefs re-crawls the web. Your score won't change overnight after earning new links—patience is required. The metric also considers historical link velocity; sudden spikes from PBNs or link schemes can trigger penalties.
Why Domain Rating Is Important for SEO
DR is a directional indicator that investors, marketing teams, and search engines use to evaluate whether a domain is trustworthy. A DR jump often leads to more keyword rankings, easier outreach, and higher conversion rates because prospects see proof of authority.
Signals trust to search engines: High DR implies your backlink graph is clean and diverse, which reduces manual reviews and boosts crawl frequency. Google's algorithms favor domains with natural, editorial link profiles over sites with manipulative patterns.
Improves organic rankings: Pages on DR 60+ domains rank faster because they inherit authority through internal links. New content benefits from existing domain strength, allowing you to compete for competitive keywords with less individual page optimization.
Unlocks business partnerships: Sales teams leverage DR to secure co-marketing, directory, and marketplace listings. Many platforms require minimum DR thresholds (often DR 30+) before accepting submissions or partnerships.
Future-proofs your SEO strategy: Even if algorithms change, a strong link profile keeps your brand competitive. Link equity compounds over time, creating a moat that competitors can't easily replicate.
Increases domain value: High-DR domains command premium prices in acquisitions. Investors and buyers use DR as a quick proxy for domain authority, making it easier to justify higher valuations.
Enhances email deliverability: While not directly related, domains with strong backlink profiles often have better email reputation. This improves outreach success rates for link building, PR, and partnership campaigns.
Domain Rating vs. Other SEO Metrics
DR is one of several authority metrics used in SEO. Understanding the differences helps you choose the right KPIs for your campaigns.
DR vs. Domain Authority (DA)
Domain Authority (Moz): Uses a 0–100 scale but relies on a different algorithm. DA considers link volume, root domains, and Moz's proprietary Link Explorer data. DR (Ahrefs) focuses more on link quality and diversity. Both metrics correlate with rankings, but DR updates more frequently and is considered more transparent.
Which to use: Many SEOs track both, but DR is more widely adopted in link building because Ahrefs provides better backlink analysis tools. DA remains popular among Moz subscribers.
DR vs. Page Authority (PA)
Page Authority (Moz): Measures individual page strength, while DR measures domain-level authority. A single page can have high PA even if the domain has low DR (e.g., a viral article on a new site). Conversely, pages on high-DR domains inherit authority, making it easier to rank new content.
Which to use: Use DR for domain-level strategy and PA for page-specific optimization. High DR helps all pages; high PA helps individual pages compete.
DR vs. URL Rating (UR)
URL Rating (Ahrefs): Like PA, UR measures individual page strength on a 0–100 scale. A page's UR depends on its own backlinks plus inherited authority from the domain. High DR domains typically have higher average UR across pages.
Which to use: DR for overall domain health; UR for specific page performance. When link building, prioritize pages with high UR for maximum impact.
DR vs. Trust Flow / Citation Flow
Trust Flow & Citation Flow (Majestic):Trust Flow measures link quality (0–100), while Citation Flow measures link quantity. DR combines both concepts into a single metric. Majestic focuses on topical trust, while Ahrefs emphasizes overall authority.
Which to use: Majestic metrics are less common but useful for niche-specific link analysis. DR is more universal and easier to benchmark against competitors.
How Domain Rating Affects Keyword Difficulty
Keyword Difficulty (KD) in Ahrefs measures how hard it is to rank in the top 10 for a given keyword. DR directly influences your ability to compete: higher DR domains can target higher KD keywords with less individual page optimization. Here's how they connect:
Low DR (0–30) = Low KD targets: Domains with DR below 30 should focus on keywords with KD 0–20. These are long-tail, niche terms with less competition. You'll need exceptional on-page SEO and topical relevance to compete for anything higher.
Medium DR (31–50) = Medium KD targets: DR 31–50 domains can compete for KD 20–40 keywords with solid content and internal linking. You'll still need quality backlinks to individual pages, but domain authority provides a baseline boost.
High DR (51–70) = High KD targets: DR 51–70 domains can target KD 40–60 keywords effectively. Your domain authority compensates for less page-specific optimization, allowing you to rank faster with new content.
Very High DR (71+) = Very High KD targets: DR 71+ domains can compete for KD 60+ keywords, including head terms and commercial queries. You still need quality content, but domain authority gives you a significant ranking advantage.
Pro tip: When building links, prioritize DR 60–90 sources because they pass the most authority. A single link from a DR 80 site can help you rank for keywords with KD 10–15 points higher than your current domain strength suggests. This is why IncreaseDomainRating.com focuses exclusively on high-DR placements.
Domain Rating Benchmarks
Use the table below to understand how different DR bands translate to real-world authority and next steps.
How to Increase Domain Rating: Complete Guide
DR growth is a compound effect. You need to earn new referring domains, protect your existing profile, and tie everything back to strategic content. Here is a proven framework that works for domains at any level:
1. Audit your baseline and technical foundation
Before building links, benchmark your current DR, referring domains count, and toxic link ratio in Ahrefs. Export your backlink profile and identify:
- Low-quality referring domains (DR < 10, spam patterns)
- Nofollow vs. dofollow ratio (aim for 70%+ dofollow)
- Anchor text over-optimization (exact match spam)
- Broken or redirected links that need cleanup
Fix critical technical issues first: site speed, mobile usability, HTTPS, XML sitemaps, and robots.txt. Google won't crawl or index pages efficiently if technical SEO is broken, limiting link value transfer.
2. Publish linkable assets and cornerstone content
Original research, statistics, and teardown content earn organic coverage faster than generic blog posts. Create assets that journalists, bloggers, and industry experts want to cite:
- Original data studies: Surveys, industry reports, trend analysis
- Visual content: Infographics, interactive tools, calculators
- Expert roundups: Curated insights from industry leaders
- Comprehensive guides: 5,000+ word resources that become go-to references
- Case studies: Detailed success stories with metrics
Promote these assets through email outreach, social media, and communities (Reddit, HackerNews, niche forums). The goal is earning natural editorial links, not buying placements.
3. Secure DR 60–90 backlinks from trusted sources
Prioritize industry publications, niche communities, and digital PR placements with dofollow editorial links. Quality trumps quantity: one DR 80 link can lift your score more than 50 DR 20 links.
- Digital PR: Pitch journalists with newsworthy angles tied to your expertise
- Guest posting: Write for high-DR blogs in your niche (avoid PBNs)
- Resource pages: Get listed on curated link pages (e.g., "Best Tools for X")
- Broken link building: Find broken links on high-DR sites and suggest replacements
- Skyscraper technique: Create better content than top-ranking pages and outreach
Avoid link farms, PBNs, directory spam, and paid link schemes. These can trigger penalties and waste budget. Focus on editorial placements where links are earned, not purchased.
4. Optimize internal linking architecture
Pass authority to revenue pages through contextual anchors, breadcrumbs, and updated sitemaps. Internal links distribute DR equity across your site, helping lower-authority pages rank:
- Link from high-UR pages to target pages using descriptive anchor text
- Create topic clusters where pillar pages link to supporting content
- Add contextual links in body content (not just footers/sidebars)
- Use breadcrumbs for navigation and crawlability
- Update old content with links to new pages to refresh authority flow
Tools like Ahrefs Site Audit can identify internal linking opportunities and orphaned pages that aren't receiving authority.
5. Monitor, disavow, and protect your profile
Track new links weekly, remove spammy footprints, and submit disavow files when needed. Set up alerts in Ahrefs to notify you of new backlinks so you can catch toxic links early:
- Review new referring domains monthly for spam patterns
- Disavow toxic links (PBNs, link farms, paid placements) via Google Search Console
- Remove or nofollow links you control (footer links, directory submissions)
- Monitor anchor text distribution to avoid over-optimization penalties
- Track DR changes monthly to measure progress
Negative SEO attacks (competitors building spam links to your site) are rare but possible. Regular monitoring helps you catch and disavow these before they impact rankings.
6. Build topical authority through content clusters
Create comprehensive content around core topics to establish expertise. Search engines reward domains that demonstrate deep knowledge in specific areas:
- Choose 3–5 core topics relevant to your business
- Create one pillar page (5,000+ words) per topic
- Write 10–20 supporting articles that link back to the pillar
- Earn backlinks to both pillar and supporting content
- Update and refresh content annually to maintain freshness
Topical authority signals help you rank for related keywords even without individual page backlinks, because the domain itself is recognized as an expert source.
Need a guaranteed DR lift? We handle the heavy lifting
Our team executes vetted link building programs with transparent reporting. When we confirm your DR boost via Ahrefs, you also get a full backlink log and ongoing monitoring. We focus exclusively on DR 60–90 placements from editorial sources—no PBNs, no spam, no shortcuts.
Common Domain Rating Misconceptions
❌ "More links = higher DR"
Reality: DR considers link quality, not just quantity. Earning 1,000 links from DR 5 sites won't move the needle like 10 links from DR 80 sites. Focus on referring domains with high DR, not total link count.
❌ "DR updates daily"
Reality: Ahrefs recalculates DR every 3–4 weeks as they re-crawl the web. Your score won't change immediately after earning new links. Be patient and track referring domains count as a leading indicator.
❌ "Buying links is the fastest way to boost DR"
Reality: Purchased links from PBNs or link farms can trigger penalties and tank your DR. Google penalizes manipulative link schemes. Focus on earning editorial links through content and outreach.
❌ "DR directly determines rankings"
Reality: DR is a correlation, not causation. High DR domains rank better because they have strong backlink profiles, but on-page SEO, content quality, user signals, and technical factors also matter. DR is one piece of the puzzle.
❌ "All backlinks count equally toward DR"
Reality: Dofollow links pass authority; nofollow links don't. Links from high-DR domains pass more authority than links from low-DR domains. Editorial placements (articles) carry more weight than directory listings or comments.
Domain Rating FAQ
How long does it take to increase Domain Rating?
DR increases gradually as you earn new referring domains. Expect 3–6 months to see meaningful changes (5+ point lifts) with consistent link building. Rapid spikes are often red flags for manipulative tactics. Remember: DR updates every 3–4 weeks, so patience is required.
Can Domain Rating decrease?
Yes. DR can drop if you lose high-quality backlinks (domains remove links, sites go offline, links become nofollow), if competitors gain more authority (relative comparison), or if Ahrefs detects and devalues toxic links. Regular monitoring helps you catch declines early.
What’s a good Domain Rating for a new site?
New sites typically start at DR 0–5. DR 20+ is solid for a site under 1 year old. DR 30+ indicates strong early link building. DR 40+ within the first year is exceptional and usually requires significant investment in content and outreach.
Do nofollow links help Domain Rating?
Nofollow links don’t directly increase DR, but they can still benefit SEO by driving referral traffic, brand awareness, and social signals. A healthy backlink profile includes both dofollow (70%+) and nofollow links, which looks natural to search engines.
How many referring domains do I need for DR 50?
There’s no fixed number—DR depends on the quality of referring domains, not just quantity. A site with 50 referring domains from DR 80+ sources can have higher DR than a site with 500 referring domains from DR 10 sources. Focus on earning links from high-DR domains in your niche.
Should I track DR or referring domains count?
Track both. Referring domains count is a leading indicator (updates faster) while DR is a lagging indicator (updates every 3–4 weeks). If referring domains increase but DR doesn’t, you may be earning links from low-DR sources. Aim for both metrics to grow together.