What Is a Good DA or DR for Backlinks? A Simple Guide for Website Owners

Backlinks are one of the strongest signals that search engines use to understand the trust and authority of a website. A single quality backlink can have more impact on rankings than dozens of poor ones. For that reason, many website owners look at metrics such as Domain Authority (DA) and Domain Rating (DR) when judging the value of a backlink.

Both DA and DR are third-party measurements created by SEO tools. They help estimate how powerful a site might be in terms of linking strength. Many business owners and bloggers find them confusing, because each tool calculates authority in a different way.

The purpose of this guide is to make these metrics easy to understand. You will learn what DA and DR actually measure, what numbers are considered good, and why relevance often matters more than high scores. By the end, you will know how to judge whether a backlink is truly valuable for your website growth.

What Are DA and DR in SEO?

Backlink quality is often measured with two common metrics. These are Domain Authority (DA) from Moz and Domain Rating (DR) from Ahrefs. Both are widely used by marketers, yet they are not the same.

Domain Authority (DA) – Moz’s Metric

Domain Authority is a score developed by Moz. It ranges from 1 to 100. A higher score usually means the website has a stronger link profile. Moz calculates DA by looking at the number of backlinks, the quality of those backlinks, and how often the site appears linked across the web.

It is important to know that DA is not a metric used by Google. It is only an estimate created by Moz. Still, it gives website owners a quick way to compare the strength of different sites when judging backlink opportunities.

Domain Rating (DR) – Ahrefs’ Metric

Domain Rating is a metric from Ahrefs. It also uses a scale of 1 to 100. A higher DR usually means the site has many strong backlinks pointing to it. Ahrefs calculates DR by looking at the total number of unique domains linking to a website and the quality of those domains.

Many people confuse DR with DA. Both try to measure the power of a site’s backlink profile, but each tool uses a different formula. Like DA, DR is not an official Google ranking factor. It should be used only as a guide when checking potential backlinks.

Why These Metrics Matter (and Their Limitations)?

Many website owners use DA and DR as a quick way to judge the strength of a backlink. These numbers make it easier to filter websites when building links. A higher score often means the site has more trusted backlinks, which can help pass more authority.

Marketers rely on these metrics because they give a rough idea of how search engines might view a site’s backlink profile. For example, if a site has a DA of 60, it usually means it has earned links from many other trusted sites. That can look better than a site with DA 15.

Even though DA and DR are useful, they also have clear limits. Both are created by third-party tools, not by Google. Search engines do not use DA or DR when ranking websites. They have their own algorithms that measure authority and trust in different ways.

Focusing only on DA or DR can also be misleading. A backlink from a very high DA or DR site may still have little value if it comes from an unrelated niche or from a low-quality page. On the other hand, a link from a lower DA site that is closely related to your topic can help more with rankings.

Website owners should treat DA and DR as starting points, not final answers. The real value of a backlink comes from a mix of authority, trust, and relevance.

What Is Considered a Good DA or DR for Backlinks?

Many website owners ask what number is good when checking DA or DR. The truth is that there is no single magic score. What counts as “good” often depends on the stage of your website, the niche you work in, and the type of links you are building.

Benchmarks by Website Stage

• New websites: Backlinks from sites with DA or DR between 20 and 30 can already be helpful. At this stage, relevance and trust matter more than chasing very high scores.
• Growing websites: Sites in the 40 to 60 range are often strong and respected. Backlinks from these domains can push rankings forward and improve authority.
• Established websites: Domains with scores above 70 are rare and often belong to big brands or major publishers. A backlink from them can be powerful, but it is not always needed for steady growth.

Industry and Niche Considerations

A good DA or DR also depends on the niche. A backlink from a DR 25 site that publishes in your exact industry can often be more valuable than a DR 70 site in an unrelated field. Search engines care about how relevant the linking site is to your content.

Avoiding Vanity Metrics

Chasing only high numbers can be a mistake. A backlink with DA 80 may look impressive, but if the site is full of spammy outbound links, it may not add real value. On the other hand, a smaller but trusted niche site can give your website stronger ranking signals.

The best approach is to see DA and DR as guides, not as the final decision. Combine these metrics with checks for relevance, organic traffic, and content quality to judge whether a backlink is truly strong.

Why Relevance Beats DA and DR?

Search engines look at more than just authority when judging backlinks. The context of the link is just as important as the strength of the domain. A backlink from a site in the same niche or a closely related topic often carries more weight than one from a site with a much higher DA or DR but no topical match.

For example, if you run a digital marketing agency, a backlink from a DR 30 blog that writes about SEO and content marketing can help your rankings more than a DR 80 link from a food blog. The reason is simple: search engines want to see links that make sense for readers.

Relevance shows search engines that your site has authority within a subject area. When multiple sites in the same niche link to your content, it sends a strong signal of topical expertise. That is why many SEO experts agree that relevance can outweigh raw authority metrics.

Backlinks that are both relevant and authoritative offer the best results. They combine the trust of a strong site with the context of a related topic, which matches what search engines are really looking for.

How to Evaluate Backlink Quality Beyond DA and DR?

DA and DR are useful starting points, but they do not tell the full story. A backlink’s real value comes from a mix of relevance, authority, and trust signals. Website owners should look at several factors together before deciding if a backlink is worth building.

Topical Relevance

The linking website should cover topics that match or closely relate to your industry. A backlink from a niche site shows stronger topical authority than a random link from an unrelated field.

Traffic and Engagement

A site with steady organic traffic often provides better backlinks. Search engines see that the site is trusted by users. A link from such a domain is more likely to pass value than one from a site with no real visitors.

Link Placement Context

Where the link appears matters. Editorial links placed naturally within the content are more powerful than links in sidebars, footers, or comment sections. Search engines prefer links that fit smoothly into the page and add value to readers.

Anchor Text Naturalness

Anchor text should look natural and relevant to the page it links to. Over-optimized or keyword-stuffed anchors can appear spammy. A balanced mix of branded, generic, and keyword-rich anchors works best for long-term SEO growth.

Trust Signals

Look for signs that the linking website is genuine. Age of the domain, quality of its content, and a clean outbound link profile all build trust. Avoid sites that sell links in bulk or link out to unrelated industries, as they may harm your site.

Practical Steps to Find Good DA/DR Backlinks

Finding quality backlinks is not only about checking DA or DR. A step-by-step process helps filter out weak sites and focus on links that can actually improve rankings. Website owners can use common SEO tools and a simple checklist to guide the process.

• Check DA or DR: Start by checking the domain’s authority score in tools such as Moz or Ahrefs. Record the number, but do not treat it as the final decision.
• Review Organic Traffic: Look at the site’s organic traffic using tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or SimilarWeb. A site with consistent visitors is more likely to pass value than one with zero traffic.
• Confirm Niche Relevance: Make sure the website covers topics that connect to your business. A backlink is more effective when it comes from content that matches your industry or audience.
• Evaluate Content Quality: Read through a few articles on the site. Check if the content is original, helpful, and well-written. Sites filled with thin or spammy articles are poor backlink sources.
• Check Link Placement Opportunities: See where links are usually placed on the site. Focus on getting editorial links placed naturally within content instead of sidebars or footers.

Common Mistakes Website Owners Make With DA/DR

Many website owners make errors when using DA or DR to evaluate backlinks. These mistakes can lead to wasted effort, poor link choices, or even SEO setbacks.

Chasing Only High DA/DR Links

Some people focus only on getting backlinks from sites with the highest scores. Even a very high DA or DR site may provide little value if it is not relevant to your niche or topic.

Ignoring Link Placement

Backlinks in sidebars, footers, or spammy directories do not pass the same value as editorial links placed naturally in content. Owners sometimes overlook this factor and assume any link counts.

Overestimating DA/DR’s SEO Impact

DA and DR are third-party metrics. They are not Google ranking factors. Treating them as guarantees of ranking improvements can create unrealistic expectations.

Neglecting Relevance and Trust

A link from a high DA/DR site can be less effective if the content is low quality or unrelated to your niche. Trust and context are often more important than raw numbers.

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Conclusion

Backlinks remain one of the most important factors for SEO. Metrics like DA and DR provide useful insights into a website’s authority, but they are only part of the picture. A high DA or DR score does not guarantee a backlink will improve rankings.

Relevance, trust, and content quality often matter more than raw numbers. Backlinks from sites in your niche, with steady traffic and naturally placed links, bring more value than links from unrelated high-authority domains.

Website owners should use DA and DR as guides, not rules. Combining these metrics with careful checks for relevance and trust ensures long-term SEO growth. Choosing the right backlinks helps your site gain authority, attract the right audience, and build sustainable rankings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is DA or DR better for measuring backlinks?

Both DA and DR are useful indicators of a site’s backlink strength. Neither is used by Google directly. Use them together with relevance and trust signals to evaluate links.

Can low DA/DR backlinks still help?

Yes. Links from smaller but relevant and trusted sites can pass strong signals to search engines. Relevance often outweighs raw authority metrics.

Do Google rankings directly use DA or DR?

No. These are third-party metrics. Google evaluates links based on quality, relevance, and trust, not Moz’s or Ahrefs’ scores.

How many high DA/DR links are enough?

There is no fixed number. Focus on consistent link quality over quantity. A mix of relevant links from high, medium, and smaller authority sites works best.

Should I ignore DA/DR entirely?

No. They are helpful guides to filter potential backlink opportunities. Always combine them with checks for relevance, content quality, and placement.