Amazon's Best Seller Rank (BSR) is one of the most important – and most misunderstood – metrics for sellers. Here's what you need to know.
What is BSR?
BSR is a relative ranking of products based on sales within a category. A BSR of 1 means that product is the #1 seller in its category.
How BSR is Calculated
- Based on recent and historical sales
- Updated hourly
- Relative to other products in the category
- Weighted toward recent sales
What BSR Tells You
- Sales Velocity: Lower BSR = more sales
- Category Competition: BSR in different categories means different things
- Trends: Rising BSR might indicate declining sales
What BSR Doesn't Tell You
- Actual sales numbers
- Profitability
- Long-term viability
Using BSR for Product Research
BSR is useful for estimating sales volume, but always combine it with other metrics for a complete picture.
