Domain Authority

Predicts how likely a website is to rank relative to competitors, on a 1–100 scale, using backlink signals rather than being a Google ranking factor.

If you have ever picked a keyword on a high DA and still failed to rank, you already know the number is not the whole story.

Key points

Use DA as a comparative benchmark, not a direct ranking guarantee.
Focus on link quality from relevant sites, not just score growth.
Compare DA scores only within Moz's system; other tools use different scales.
A low DA does not mean a site cannot rank for niche terms.
Track DA changes over months, not days, to see real improvement.
Do not chase DA through low-quality or irrelevant backlinks.

The same keyword, three different scores

A small blog with a DA of 12 ranks on page one for 'best budget espresso machine'. A large retailer with a DA of 68 sits on page three for the same term. A new site with a DA of 5 and a single, highly relevant backlink from a coffee forum outranks both. The DA scores predicted the opposite of what happened, because relevance and content depth mattered more than the metric.

Three situations where this changes your decision

Prioritising outreach targets You filter prospects by DA to focus on sites likely to pass link equity. A DA of 40 from a relevant industry blog often beats a DA of 70 from a generic directory.
Measuring site growth over time Track your own DA quarterly to see if your backlink strategy is working. A steady climb from 25 to 35 over six months signals improving authority, even if rankings fluctuate.
Comparing against competitors When a rival's DA jumps from 30 to 45, investigate their new backlinks. You might spot a link-building opportunity or a strategy worth adapting.

Four ways it goes wrong

Treating it as a Google metric Google does not use DA. Relying on it to predict rankings can mislead you into ignoring content quality, relevance, and user experience.
Comparing across different tools Semrush's Authority Score and Ahrefs' Domain Rating use different calculations. A DA of 50 on Moz does not equal a DR of 50 on Ahrefs.
Chasing score growth blindly Buying low-quality backlinks to raise DA can trigger spam penalties. A higher score with a manual action is worse than a lower score with clean links.
Ignoring relevance and traffic A high DA from an unrelated niche passes little value. Always check the linking site's topical match and actual visitor numbers before pursuing a link.

What to check before acting on a DA score

Check the linking root domains DA is heavily influenced by the number and quality of unique domains linking to you. One strong link from a .edu or .gov can outweigh dozens of weak ones.
Verify the score with MozBar Use MozBar to see DA directly on search results or any page. It gives you real-time context without leaving your browser.
Cross-reference with PageRank While Google's PageRank is not public, tools like the Moz DA checker approximate similar link-based authority. A high DA often correlates with strong backlink profiles.

Common questions

How to increase domain authority?

Earn high-quality backlinks from relevant, authoritative sites. Focus on content that naturally attracts links, and avoid low-quality or spammy link-building tactics.

What is a good domain authority?

There is no fixed 'good' score because DA is comparative. A score of 40 may be excellent in a niche with few strong sites, but weak in a competitive industry.

How is domain authority calculated?

Moz uses link-based signals like linking root domains and backlink quality. The exact algorithm is proprietary and updated periodically, so scores can shift.

Sources

Moz — Domain Authority Official definition, scale explanation, and usage guidelines from Moz.
Google Search Central Google's official documentation confirms DA is not a ranking factor.
Moz — Link Explorer / metrics documentation Details on how Moz calculates link metrics including DA.
Link Index — How to increase domain authority Caspian Wilder on what DA proxies actually measure.