Ahrefs Domain Rating: What It Means, Why It Matters & How to Improve It

Last Updated on October 8, 2025 by Becky Halls

Let’s Talk Ahrefs Domain Rating (DR)!

If you’ve ever used Ahrefs, or indeed know anything about SEO, you’ve probably come across something called Domain Rating, or DR for short. It’s a number from 0 to 100, and it’s often used (and misused) to judge how “strong” a website is.

But what does Ahrefs Domain Rating actually mean? Is it the key to ranking on Google? Should you obsess over it? And more importantly, how do you improve it??

That’s what we’re here to cover, so let’s begin…

What Is Ahrefs Domain Rating?

Ahrefs Domain Rating (DR) is a metric developed by Ahrefs to show the strength of a website’s backlink profile — i.e., how many quality websites are linking to it. The score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating a stronger backlink profile.

Think of it like a trust score based on who’s vouching for you across the internet.

“DR isn’t Google’s ranking score but it’s a useful compass. It tells you whether your site is trending or needs help in the link-building department.”
— Becky Halls, SEO Strategist @ 3Way.Social

Here’s What Domain Rating Measures:

• ✅ The quantity of backlinks (although remember not all are weighted equally)

• ✅ The quality of those links (are they from strong, high-DR sites?)

• ✅ The diversity of referring domains (not just one site linking 50 times)

• ✅ Whether those domains have strong backlink profiles of their own

It does not measure:

• Your content quality

• Your traffic

• Keyword rankings

• On-page SEO

DR is purely about backlink authority. It’s Ahrefs’ way of estimating how much link equity your domain holds, compared to every other site on the web.

Why Does Domain Rating Matter?

While DR isn’t part of Google’s actual algorithm, it’s a strong indicator of whether you’re moving in the right direction, especially when it comes to competitive niches.

Here’s why small business owners and website creators should care:

•  Higher DR websites tend to rank better (correlation, not causation)

•  A strong DR helps you earn more links naturally

•  People are more likely to cite, reference, or partner with you if your site looks “authoritative”

•  Many guest post and PR opportunities require a minimum DR

•  Some tools prioritise high-DR domains for features like AI training, indexing, or syndication

 “Websites with DR 50+ receive 62% more organic traffic on average than sites with DR below 30.”
— Source: Ahrefs SEO Benchmark Report, 2025

How Is Ahrefs Domain Rating Calculated?

Let’s break it down (without getting too ‘mathy’):

1. Ahrefs looks at how many unique domains are linking to you.

2. Then it checks how strong those domains are (based on their DR).

3. It also considers how many domains those sites are linking to.

4. Then it runs a few logarithmic calculations (it’s not linear!)

5. Your score gets placed on a 0–100 scale.

Important to note:

• DR 20 to 30 is relatively easy to achieve.

• DR 50+ takes work.

• DR 70+ usually requires years of content, PR, or link-building.

So if you’re sitting at DR 12, don’t panic… You’re not failing – You’re just early.

What’s a Good DR Score?

That depends entirely on your niche.

Here’s a general breakdown:

3Way tip: Don’t chase DR for vanity. Use it as a benchmark against your competitors, not a leaderboard.

“DR 50 isn’t built overnight. But if you steadily earn 3–5 good backlinks a month, you’ll get there faster than most people think.”
— BrightEdge Link Building Trends Report, 2025

How to Improve Your Ahrefs Domain Rating

Let’s get to the practical stuff. You don’t need magic. You need consistency.

Here are proven strategies to increase your domain rating even if you’re just getting started.

1. Build High-Quality Backlinks

DR goes up when more strong, diverse domains link to you.

Ways to earn them:

•  Write guest posts for niche blogs

•  Submit your site to high-trust directories

•  Partner with industry influencers or tools

•  Create original research, stats pages, or “linkable assets”

•  Use platforms like 3Way.Social to trade links ethically

“Ahrefs Domain Rating is powerful, but it’s not everything. Focus on link quality, consistency, and content that earns links over time.”
— Ian Naylor, Founder @ 3Way.Social

2. Diversify Your Referring Domains

One link from 100 different sites beats 100 links from one site.

•  Use Ahrefs to see how many unique domains are linking to you
•  Aim to build 5–10 new referring domains per month
•  Focus on relevance, not just DR scores

3. Reclaim Lost or Broken Backlinks

Old links break. Pages get deleted. People update content and forget you.

•  Use Ahrefs or Semrush to find broken backlinks to your site
•  Set up redirects or ask editors to update their links
•  Tools like LinkWhisper or Broken Link Checker can help automate this

4. Create Content That Earns Links Naturally

This could include:

• Industry stats roundups

• FAQ or How-To guides

• Comparison posts

• “Top tools” lists

• Helpful templates or calculators

Think: “Would someone in my niche reference or link to this?”

5. Use Internal Linking to Support Authority Flow

While internal links don’t increase DR directly, they help distribute authority to your best content, and this does help rankings.

•  Link from older posts to newer ones
•  Use contextual anchor text (not just “click here”)
•  Update your internal links as new content is published

What NOT to Do (to Avoid Messing Up Your DR)

• ❌ Don’t buy cheap bulk backlinks

• ❌ Avoid Private Blog Networks (PBNs)

• ❌ Don’t stuff keywords in anchor text

• ❌ Skip irrelevant links (Google values topical links now more than ever)

• ❌ Don’t obsess over DR — focus on link quality, not just score chasing

FAQ: Ahrefs Domain Rating

Q: Is Domain Rating the same as Domain Authority (DA)?
A: Not quite. DR is Ahrefs’ metric. DA is Moz’s. They measure similar things (backlink strength) but their databases and formulas are different. Neither is used by Google directly.

Q: How often does DR update?
A: Ahrefs updates DR roughly every 24–48 hours. But significant changes usually reflect a big influx (or loss) of links.

Q: Can DR go down?
A: Yes, especially if you lose links, the sites linking to you drop in DR, or Ahrefs updates its algorithm.

Q: Does a high DR guarantee rankings?
A: Nope. It helps, but Google considers many other signals: content, user experience, relevance, on-page SEO, speed, and more.

Q: How can I check my DR for free?
A: Use Ahrefs’ free Website Authority Checker — you’ll get your DR score, referring domains, and top backlinks without needing a paid account.

Q: Should I compare my DR to competitors?
A: Yes — but only to stay informed, not discouraged. If your competitors are DR 40+ and you’re DR 10, that gives you a goal — not a reason to panic.

Final Thoughts: DR is a Guide, Not a Goal

Your Ahrefs Domain Rating is one of the best signals for how your backlink strategy is performing. But it’s not the be-all-end-all of SEO.

Use it to:

• Track growth

• Set benchmarks

• Evaluate link-building ROI

• Spot opportunities in your niche

But don’t let it distract you from the bigger picture: creating great content, building relationships, and helping people.

👉 Want to improve your DR without cold emails or risky tactics?
Join 3Way.Social to earn quality, relevant backlinks through smart, ethical link exchanges — no spam, no spreadsheets.