What Is Domain Authority? A Simple Beginner’s Guide to Moz DA Score
Domain authority is a score that predicts how well a site can rank. Moz created it, and it runs from 1 to 100. A higher score means a stronger, more trusted website. Marketers use it to compare sites and track SEO progress. This guide explains what domain authority is in plain terms. You will learn how it works, what a good score is, and how to check it. You will also see how it differs from Domain Rating and Page Authority. It is written for beginners and for anyone who wants a clear refresher.
What Is Domain Authority?
Domain authority (DA), also called Moz domain authority or Moz DA, is a search engine ranking score developed by Moz. Some tools call a similar metric a domain score or authority score. It predicts how likely a website is to rank in search results. The score runs on a scale from 1 to 100. A higher number points to a stronger ability to rank.
DA is based mostly on your backlink profile. Sites with many quality backlinks tend to score higher. It looks at your whole domain, not a single page.
Think of DA as a credit score for websites. It does not come from Google. Instead, it estimates strength by studying links across the web.
Is Domain Authority a Google Ranking Factor?
No. Domain authority is not a Google ranking factor. Google has said it does not use any domain authority score. DA is a third-party metric made by Moz, not by Google.
Still, DA often moves in step with rankings. That is because both rely on strong, quality backlinks. A high DA does not cause rankings, but it reflects the same signals.
Use DA as a guide, not a goal. Chase quality links and content, and your DA will follow. Never treat the score itself as proof of a top ranking.
How Is Domain Authority Calculated?
Moz builds DA from many link-based signals. The biggest driver is your backlink profile. A machine learning model turns that data into one score.
These factors shape your domain authority most.
- Linking root domains. The number of unique sites that link to you.
- Total backlinks. The full count of links pointing to your domain.
- Link quality. The authority and relevance of those linking sites.
- Spam signals. Toxic or spammy links can drag your score down.
The scale is logarithmic, so growth gets harder as you climb. Moving from 20 to 30 is far easier than 70 to 80. Moz also recalculates DA often, so small shifts are normal.
What Is a Good Domain Authority Score?
There is no single good score for every site. DA is relative, so you compare against your competitors. A score that beats your rivals is a good target.
Still, these bands give a rough guide.
| DA score | What it means |
|---|---|
| 1 to 20 | New or small sites still building links |
| 21 to 40 | Growing sites with some authority |
| 41 to 60 | Established sites with solid link profiles |
| 61 to 80 | Strong, trusted sites in their niche |
| 81 to 100 | Major brands like Wikipedia and Amazon |
Most healthy small-business sites sit in the 20 to 40 range. Aim to grow past your direct competitors, not toward a fixed number. A steady climb matters more than one high reading.
Domain Authority vs Domain Rating vs Page Authority
These three metrics look similar but are not the same. Each comes from a different tool and measures a slightly different thing. Here is how they compare.
| Metric | Tool | Measures | Scale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domain Authority (DA) | Moz | Whole domain’s ranking strength | 1 to 100 |
| Domain Rating (DR) | Ahrefs | Whole domain’s backlink strength | 0 to 100 |
| Page Authority (PA) | Moz | A single page’s ranking strength | 1 to 100 |
DA and DR both score your full website, but from different link data. You cannot compare a Moz DA directly with an Ahrefs DR. Page Authority is narrower, since it rates one page, not the domain.
Use whichever metric your tool provides, then stay consistent. All three reward the same thing: strong, relevant authority backlinks.
How to Check Domain Authority
A domain authority checker shows your score in just a few seconds. Many free and paid tools report it, from the Moz domain authority checker to free DA checkers. Here are the most common ones.
- Moz Link Explorer. The official source of DA, with a free check.
- MozBar. A free browser extension that shows DA as you browse.
- Ahrefs and Semrush. Paid tools with their own authority scores.
- Free DA checkers. Many SEO sites offer quick lookups.
Check your score about once a month, not every day. DA shifts slightly between Moz updates, which is normal. Track the long-term trend, not small daily changes.
How to Increase Domain Authority
You cannot edit your DA directly, since Moz controls the score. You raise it by improving the signals behind it. Focus on these proven steps.
- Earn quality backlinks. Build links from relevant, trusted sites.
- Create linkable content. Publish guides, data, and tools worth citing.
- Audit toxic links. Find and disavow spammy links that hurt trust.
- Improve internal linking. Spread authority across your key pages.
- Stay consistent. Keep earning links at a steady, natural pace.
Links do the heaviest lifting, so make them your priority. Use proven link building strategies to grow them safely. Over time, steady effort lifts your domain authority.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good domain authority score?
It depends on your niche, since DA is relative. A score above your main competitors is a good target. Most small-business sites sit in the 20 to 40 range.
Is domain authority a Google ranking factor?
No. Google does not use domain authority in its algorithm. It is a Moz metric that only estimates ranking strength.
What is the difference between domain authority and domain rating?
Domain authority is Moz’s score, and domain rating is Ahrefs’ score. Both rate your whole site’s link strength on a 100-point scale. You cannot compare the two numbers directly.
How long does it take to increase domain authority?
Usually several months of steady link building. The scale is logarithmic, so higher scores take longer. Focus on quality links and consistency.
Conclusion
Domain authority is a useful guide to your site’s link strength. It is a Moz score, not a Google ranking factor, so treat it as a compass. Compare it against competitors rather than chasing a fixed number.
The best way to raise DA is simple. Earn quality backlinks, publish content worth citing, and clean up toxic links. Do this steadily, and your domain authority will climb over time.
