What Is Domain Authority?
Domain Authority, or DA, is a scoring metric created by Moz. It predicts how likely a website is to rank in search results compared to other websites, using a scale of 1 to 100. A higher score generally suggests a stronger, more trusted domain in the eyes of search engines.
DA is calculated using a machine learning model that looks mainly at backlink data, the number of linking root domains, the quality of those domains, and how the site’s link profile compares to millions of other websites.
Does Domain Authority Actually Affect Rankings?
Not a Google metric
DA is built entirely by Moz. Google has confirmed multiple times that DA is not part of its ranking algorithm.
A useful proxy, not a cause
Sites with high DA often rank well because both are driven by the same thing, strong backlinks, not because DA itself causes rankings.
Best used for comparison
DA is most useful when comparing your site to competitors or evaluating a backlink opportunity, not as a target to chase directly.
Chasing a higher DA number without improving the actual factors behind it, content quality, technical health, and link relevance, will not move you closer to page 1 rankings. Many sites with a modest DA outrank higher DA competitors simply by matching search intent better.
What Influences Your DA Score
| Factor | Impact on DA |
|---|---|
| Number of linking root domains | High |
| Quality and authority of linking sites | High |
| Total number of backlinks | Moderate |
| Site age and history | Moderate |
| On-page keyword usage | Low, DA is link-focused |
How to Actually Use Domain Authority
- Benchmark against competitors, not as an absolute goal. A DA of 30 in a low-competition niche can outperform a DA of 50 in a saturated one.
- Evaluate backlink opportunities. A guest post or directory listing from a higher DA site is generally worth more than one from a very low DA site.
- Track trend, not the single number. A steadily rising DA over months usually reflects healthy link growth, which matters more than the score on any single day.
This same principle shows up in a full SEO audit, where DA is checked alongside technical health and content quality rather than treated as the entire story.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a higher Domain Authority always better?
Generally yes for competitiveness, but DA should never be chased in isolation. Content quality and intent match matter more for actual rankings.
Can Domain Authority drop over time?
Yes. Losing backlinks, having linking domains go offline, or a drop in referring domain quality can all lower your DA score.
Is Domain Authority the same as Domain Rating?
No. Domain Rating is Ahrefs’ version of the same idea. Both measure backlink-based authority but use different data sets and calculations, so scores rarely match exactly.
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