List of best-selling individual magazine covers explained

This is a list of some of the highest-selling magazine cover issues. It does not take into consideration centerfolds and posters. It includes any type of magazine and single special editions. Groupings are based on over 3 million newsstands copies and distribution.

Considered "The Greatest Magazine Ever Published" by David Plotz, Life magazine figures sold the most amount for decades, with a weekly circulation of 4 million copies and over 10 million readers in their prime, then-10 percent of U.S population.^[1] In recent years, People became weekly's highest-seller,^[1] and various single issues reached over 2 million copies.^[2]

List of highest-selling singles magazine cover issues

Over 5 million

Date	Publication	Cover title	Cover model(s), Event	Namesake photo	Sales (in million)	Notes
March 1973	Family Circle				9.5^[3]
August 1964	Life	"The Beatles: They're Here Again and What a Ruckus!"	The Beatles		8.5
April 1965	Life	"Drama of Life Before Birth"			8^[4]	First-four days copies according to American Society of Magazine Editors^[5]
September 2001	Time	"Sept.11, 2011 The Day That Shook America"	September 11 attacks		7.5^[6]
November 1972	Playboy		Lena Söderberg		7.16^[7]	Playboys highest-selling issue.
December 1994	Weekly Shōnen Jump		Manga characters		6.53 (in printed)^[8]	New Year issue for 1995 Weekly Shōnen Jumps highest-selling issue^[9]
September 1984	Penthouse	"Miss America Oh God, She's Nude!"	Vanessa Williams		5.3^[10]	Penthouses highest-selling issue^[11]
September 1985	Penthouse	"Madonna in the Nude"	Madonna		5^[12]
September 1985	Playboy	"Madonna Nude: Unlike a Virgin... For the Very First Time"	Madonna		5^[13]
March 1989	Playboy	"Michael's Sister in a Thriller Pictorial"	La Toya Jackson		5^[14]

3—4.9 million

Date	Publication	Cover title	Cover model(s), Event	Namesake photo	Sales (in million)	Notes
September 2001	People	"Sept.11, 2011 The Day That Shook America"	September 11 attacks		4.1^[15]
December 1995	Playboy	"Farrah Fawcett Holiday Pictorial"	Farrah Fawcett		4^[16]	Best-selling issue of the decade.^[17]
July 1955	Confidential	"Willie Mays' Luckiest Strikeout!"	Various	Various	3.7^[18]
1997	People	"Diana Princess of Wales 1961—1997"	Diana, Princess of Wales		3.1^[19]	Tribute to Diana, special edition.

See also

• List of magazines by circulation
• List of best-selling sheet music
• List of most expensive photographs
• List of most expensive celebrity photographs
• List of most expensive books and manuscripts

Notes and References

1. Web site: The Greatest Magazine Ever Published. Slate. David. Plotz. December 27, 2013. January 25, 2023. David Plotz.
2. Web site: People Magazine Still Has a Bikini Body. The New York Times. Michael. Winerip. subscription. May 22, 2009. July 7, 2022. https://archive.today/20140907033120/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/fashion/24generationb.html?_r=0. September 7, 2014.
3. The Cover Story: Best Sellers of 1973. January 24, 2023. January 28, 1974. New York. Jane. Geniesse. 34. 7. 4.
4. Web site: Life magazine through the years: See the most iconic covers. January 24, 2023. November 22, 2022. New York Daily News.
5. Web site: Top 40 Magazine Covers of the Last 40 Years. January 25, 2023. 2019. American Society of Magazine Editors.
6. Book: September 11, 2011: A Day in Time. The Quarto Group. Society of Publication Designers. 2002. 9781564968852 . January 25, 2023.
7. Web site: The bizarre story behind Playboy's highest-selling issue ever. Emily. Yahr. January 24, 2023. September 30, 2017. The Denver Post.
8. Web site: Golden age of manga magazines—1985-95 witnessed by editors No. 4: Masahiko Ibaraki, former head editor of Shukan Shonen Jump by Shueisha Inc. Part 2. Haruyuki. NAKANO. February 2, 2021. Media Arts Current Contents.
9. Web site: 50th Anniversary Weekly Shonen Jump Exhibition Vol.2 held! A valuable original drawing of “Hana no Keiji - Beyond the Clouds”!. March 23, 2018. Coamix Inc..
10. Web site: Penthouse to shutter print magazine, go all digital. Chris. Morris. January 24, 2023. January 15, 2016. CNBC.
11. Web site: 'A Felony Just to Own': The Sleazy Story Behind Penthouse's Most Controversial Issue. Lili. Anolik. January 24, 2023. September 15, 2020. Esquire.
12. News: Madonna's Photo Finish. Stephanie. Mansfield. January 24, 2023. July 11, 1985. Washington Post.
13. Advertising Age: 100 leading media companies. 56. February 27, 2022. June 30, 1986. Advertising Age.
14. News: Operation La Toya. Paula. Span. January 24, 2023. September 3, 1991. Washington Post.
15. Web site: People Magazine Still Has a Bikini Body. The New York Times. Michael. Winerip. subscription. May 22, 2009. July 7, 2022. https://archive.today/20140907033120/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/fashion/24generationb.html?_r=0. September 7, 2014.
16. Web site: Farrah Fawcett: Remembering Her Glamorous Years in Photos. People staff. January 24, 2023. June 25, 2022. People.
17. Web site: Farrah Fawcett: 1947-2009. January 24, 2023. June 26, 2009. Toronto Star.
18. Book: Scott, Henry E.. Shocking True Story: The Rise and Fall of Confidential. January 24, 2023. 2010. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. 114. 9780307378972 .
19. Web site: Meghan Markle's British Vogue issue the fastest selling in 103-year history of the magazine, plus other notable covers. Phelokazi. Mbude. January 24, 2023. February 16, 2020. News24.