How to use the Domain Rating Checker
- Type a domain, like yourproduct.com. No https:// needed.
- Press Check DR to get the rating.
- Read the Domain Rating (0 to 100) and the band next to it. New launches usually start under 10.
What is Domain Rating?
Domain Rating (DR) is Ahrefs' score for the strength of a site's backlink profile, from 0 to 100. It counts how many unique sites link to a domain and how strong those sites are themselves. It isn't a Google metric, but it's the most widely quoted measure of link authority, and directories and partners often ask for it.
DR is logarithmic. Going from 10 to 20 takes a handful of good links. Going from 60 to 70 takes thousands. Compare yourself with sites in your niche, not with giants.
How to raise DR for a new launch
- Submit to launch platforms and directories that fit your product. Our list of free startup directories shows the badge rules and wait times for each.
- Get listed where your users already look: integrations pages, partner lists, "alternatives to" roundups.
- Publish something people cite: data, a free tool, a template.
- Skip paid link schemes. They break Google's spam policies and rarely move DR for long.
Links bring crawlers too, so make sure your pages are ready for them with the marketing SEO checker and the GEO checker.
Frequently asked questions
Is DR a Google ranking factor?
No. Google doesn't use Ahrefs' metrics. DR tends to go up with the links that do help rankings, which is why SEOs use it as a quick proxy for authority.
What's a good Domain Rating?
It depends on your niche and age. Under 10 is normal for a new site. 20 to 40 is healthy for a small product. Compare with your direct competitors rather than chasing a number.
Why is my DR 0?
Ahrefs hasn't found links from other sites to your domain yet, or the few it found come from very weak sites. A handful of links from relevant directories and launch platforms usually gets you into single digits within weeks.
How often does DR update?
Ahrefs recalculates it continuously as it crawls. We cache each domain's result for 24 hours, so checking again the same day shows the same number.
Where does the number come from?
Straight from Ahrefs, through its free Domain Rating API. It's the same DR you'd see in Ahrefs' own tools.
Can I check a subdomain?
DR is calculated for the whole domain, so blog.example.com is rated as example.com.