Coldplay Albums Ranked by Sales

With 100million album sales to date, Coldplay have sold a boatload of records - but which one is at the top of the list?

We’ve decided to take a look at Coldplay albums ranked by sales, as we eagerly await their brand new record, ‘Moon Music’, which is out in October.

Their new album will be their tenth to date. According to Parlophone, the band has sold over 100million albums worldwide - no mean feat - but which are their highest selling records?

To work out the sales, we used Best Selling Albums, which works out sales based on music certifications.

With nine albums under their belts already, the band has certainly notched up a few royalties, so let’s dive in. We’ll also discuss how you can get your hands on VIP seats if the band add any more new tour dates again in future.

9. ‘Everyday Life’

Number sold: 270,000

Back in 2019, Coldplay released their eighth studio album. Divided into two parts, one part titled ‘Sunrise’ and the other ‘Sunset’, the band released the album by performing it live from the Jordanian desert. One half was played at sunrise and the other at, you guessed it, sunset.

The album hit number one and was widely praised as a more experimental record. It was also nominated for a Grammy for Album of the Year.

8. ‘Music of the Spheres’

Number sold: 305,000

Released in 2021, the band’s most recent album contains hits such as ‘Higher Power’ and ‘My Universe’. It has also led to one of the highest-grossing tours of all time, the ‘Music of the Spheres World Tour”. The tour has been going (and is still going!) and has netted them over £600million.

7. ‘Ghost Stories’

Number sold: 3.9million

The band’s sixth album was released in 2014, with guest producing by Avicii and Timbaland. With tones of electronica and synth pop throughout, it’s also one of their more melancholy records, similar to their early releases. Chris Martin has revealed it was inspired by heartbreak.

Speaking about the record to DJ Zane Lowe on BBC Radio 1, Chris Martin revealed, “The idea of Ghost Stories, for me, was ‘how do you let the things that happen to you in the past – your ghosts – how do you let them affect your present and your future?’ Because there was a time when I was feeling like they were going to drag me down and ruin my life, and the lives of those around me.”

6. ‘Mylo Xyloto’

Number sold: 4.6million

Featuring epic tracks such as ‘Paradise’ and ‘Every Teardrop is a Waterfall’, Coldplay’s sixth album, released in 2011, is a concept album. It tells the story of a war against music and colour on a planet called Silencia - quite the departure from some of their earlier releases.

The album shot to number on in the UK - and also went to number one in 34 other countries. Not bad!

5. ‘A Head Full of Dreams’

Number sold: 6million

The band’s seventh studio album, released in 2015, is home to tracks such as ‘Hymn for the Weekend’ and ‘Adventure of a Lifetime’. It contains guest appearances from a number of very well-known artists including Beyonce, Tove Lo and Noel Gallagher. It even contains a sample of Barack Obama singing ‘Amazing Grace’, as you do.

A commercial success, it was nominated for British Album of the Year at the Brits.

4. ‘X&Y’

Number sold: 10million

Album number three was released in 2005 and contains megahit ‘Fix You’, as well as ‘Talk’ and ‘Speed of Sound’.

There was a lot of pressure on the band after their first and second albums were so successful, but it became the best-selling album of 2005 worldwide, and Coldplay’s third chart-topping album in a row.

3. ‘Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends’

Number sold: 11.2million

Another concept album for the band, ‘Viva la Vida’ was released in 2008 and has themes of love, life, war and death. Its title means “long live life" in Spanish.

The band explores new musical styles on every track of the album, and employed Brian Eno as the producer. Track ‘Viva la Vida’ became the first song by the band to go to number one in both the US and the UK.

2. ‘A Rush of Blood to the Head’

Number sold: 11.6million

The second album by Coldplay is their second-biggest selling. Containing some of the band’s most-loved songs such as ‘Clocks’ and ‘The Scientist’, it was released in 2002.

The band received three Grammys for the album. These were for Best Alternative Album, Best Rock Performance and Record of the Year with ‘Clocks’.

1. ‘Parachutes’

Number sold: 13million

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the biggest-selling album by Coldplay was their first, ‘Parachutes’, released back in 2000. Containing megahits such as ‘Yellow’ and ‘Trouble’, the album cemented the band as one of the biggest in British history.

The album won the band all kinds of awards: it was shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize, and won British Album of the Year at the Brits, as well as a Grammy. Catapulting Coldplay to massive success, it’s clear to see why it’s their biggest success of all.

How can I see Coldplay with VIP seats?

While no more UK dates are planned at present for the band's ‘Music of the Spheres World Tour', if the band extends their dates then you can be among the first to know about any VIP seats that are released via Seat Unique’s booking platform. With VIP seats, you'll have an unforgettable time, with some of the best views in the house.