When it comes to SEO, understanding your website’s Domain Rating (DR) and URL Rating (UR) can help you assess your authority and ranking potential. These two metrics, developed by Ahrefs, indicate how well your site and individual pages are positioned in terms of backlinks and SEO strength.
Many website owners and marketers wonder, “What is a good DR and UR for my website?” While there’s no universal answer, benchmarks depend on factors like industry, competition, and site goals. This guide will explain what DR and UR mean, what’s considered a good score, and how to improve them.
Want to know your DR and UR? Check your website’s authority with an SEO audit!
What Is Domain Rating (DR)?
Definition and Purpose
Domain Rating (DR) is a proprietary metric developed by Ahrefs that scores a website’s overall backlink strength on a scale from 0 to 100. It’s calculated based on the number and quality of referring domains linking to your site.
Why DR Matters for SEO
- Higher DR websites tend to rank better because they have more high-quality backlinks.
- Search engines view backlinks as trust signals, making DR a valuable SEO indicator.
- Websites with a strong DR often attract organic traffic more easily than low-DR sites.
Examples of DR Benchmarks
- Small local businesses: DR 20-40 is solid.
- Mid-sized businesses & niche sites: DR 40-60 is competitive.
- Major brands & authority sites: DR 60+ indicates strong credibility.
Want to boost your DR? Learn more about our link-building strategies!
What Is URL Rating (UR)?
Definition and Purpose
URL Rating (UR) measures the strength of an individual webpage, based on its backlink profile. Unlike DR, which evaluates a domain’s overall authority, UR focuses on a single URL’s ability to rank.
Why UR Matters for SEO
- Pages with a higher UR tend to rank better for competitive keywords.
- Internal linking can distribute UR across pages to boost SEO.
- UR fluctuates more than DR because it depends on individual page links.
Examples of UR Benchmarks
- UR 10-30: Needs improvement but has ranking potential.
- UR 30-50: Competitive and well-optimized pages.
- UR 50+: Strong, authoritative pages with valuable content and backlinks.
What Is a Good DR and UR Score?
DR & UR Benchmarks by Industry
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to a good DR or UR score, but here’s a general guide:
Good DR Scores
- Small/local business websites: DR 20-40
- Mid-sized businesses, niche sites: DR 40-60
- Large brands & high-authority sites: DR 60+
Good UR Scores
- Low-authority pages: UR 10-30
- Well-optimized, competitive pages: UR 30-50
- High-authority pages: UR 50+
Keep in mind that DR and UR are relative to your industry. A DR 40 site in real estate may be weak, while DR 40 in a niche blogging industry could be strong!
How to Improve DR and UR
1. Earn High-Quality Backlinks
- Get links from authoritative, relevant sites.
- Avoid spammy or low-quality backlinks, which can harm your DR.
- Guest posting, PR, and outreach can boost your backlink profile.
2. Optimize Internal Linking
- Use internal links to distribute link equity and increase UR across pages.
- Ensure important pages receive sufficient internal links to strengthen rankings.
3. Fix Broken & Toxic Links
- Identify and remove broken backlinks using Ahrefs or Google Search Console.
- Disavow spammy backlinks that can harm your rankings.
4. Improve Content Quality
- Pages with valuable, in-depth content attract natural backlinks.
- Well-optimized content ranks higher, increasing its UR over time.
Common Misconceptions About DR and UR
1. DR Is a Google Ranking Factor (False)
DR is an Ahrefs metric, not a Google ranking signal. However, sites with high DR tend to rank well due to stronger backlink profiles.
2. A High DR Guarantees High Rankings (False)
While DR is important, content quality, on-page SEO, and keyword relevance also play a significant role in rankings.
3. UR Is More Important Than DR (Not Always True)
UR is useful for assessing individual page strength, but DR reflects overall site authority. Both are important for SEO success.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does DR Affect My Google Rankings?
Can I Have a High UR but a Low DR?
How Often Do DR and UR Update in Ahrefs?
What Is More Important, DR or Backlinks?
Understanding DR and UR is crucial for SEO success. While high scores indicate stronger backlink authority, improving content, internal linking, and quality backlinks is key to boosting rankings.
Focusing on natural link-building, fixing broken links, and strengthening internal SEO will help you increase both DR and UR over time.