RIAA-certified album units (U.S.)

Finalists ranked by certified album units.

The latest RIAA certification of each album, added up. Since 2016, album certifications include streams.

23 finalists have certified album units. Finalists without a figure are not listed.

RIAA-certified album units (U.S.)
Rank	Contestant	Certified album units (RIAA)	Details	Latest certification
1	Carrie UnderwoodS4 · Winner	23,000,000	9 albums for Carrie Underwood Some Hearts: 9× Platinum Carnival Ride: 4× Platinum Play On: 3× Platinum Blown Away: 3× Platinum Greatest Hits: Decade #1: Platinum Storyteller: Platinum Cry Pretty: Platinum My Gift: Gold My Savior: Gold	Not provided
2	Kelly ClarksonS1 · Winner	12,500,000	8 albums for Kelly Clarkson Thankful: 2× Platinum Breakaway: 6× Platinum My December: Platinum Stronger: Platinum Greatest Hits – Chapter One: Gold Wrapped in Red: Platinum Piece by Piece: Gold Meaning of Life: Gold	Not provided
3	Chris DaughtryS5 · Eliminated 4th	8,000,000with Daughtry	4 albums for Chris Daughtry Daughtry (Daughtry): 6× Platinum Leave This Town (Daughtry): Platinum Break the Spell (Daughtry): Gold Baptized (Daughtry): Gold	Not provided
4	Clay AikenS2 · Runner-up	3,500,000	3 albums for Clay Aiken Measure of a Man: 2× Platinum Merry Christmas with Love: Platinum A Thousand Different Ways: Gold	2006
5	Billy GilmanThe Voice S11 · Runner-up	3,000,000	3 albums for Billy Gilman One Voice: 2× Platinum Classic Christmas: Gold Dare to Dream: Gold	Not provided
5	Melanie MartinezThe Voice S3 · Eliminated in the Top 6	3,000,000	2 albums for Melanie Martinez Cry Baby: 2× Platinum K-12: Platinum	Not provided
7	Camila CabelloThe X Factor S2 · Third place	2,000,000	2 albums for Camila Cabello Camila: Platinum Romance: Platinum	Not provided
7	Fifth HarmonyThe X Factor S2 · Third place	2,000,000	2 albums for Fifth Harmony Reflection: Platinum 7/27: Platinum	Not provided
7	Scotty McCreeryS10 · Winner	2,000,000	3 albums for Scotty McCreery Clear as Day: Platinum Christmas with Scotty McCreery: Gold Seasons Change: Gold	Not provided
10	Fantasia BarrinoS3 · Winner	1,500,000	2 albums for Fantasia Barrino Free Yourself: Platinum Fantasia: Gold	June 15, 2007
10	Ruben StuddardS2 · Winner	1,500,000	2 albums for Ruben Studdard Soulful: Platinum I Need an Angel: Gold	2005
12	David CookS7 · Winner	1,000,000	1 album for David Cook David Cook: Platinum	2009
12	Gabby BarrettS16 · Third place	1,000,000	1 album for Gabby Barrett Goldmine: Platinum	Not provided
12	Jennifer HudsonS3 · Eliminated 7th	1,000,000	2 albums for Jennifer Hudson Jennifer Hudson: Gold I Remember Me: Gold	Not provided
12	Jordin SparksS6 · Winner	1,000,000	1 album for Jordin Sparks Jordin Sparks: Platinum	2008
12	Phillip PhillipsS11 · Winner	1,000,000	1 album for Phillip Phillips The World from the Side of the Moon: Platinum	August 21, 2013
12	Taylor HicksS5 · Winner	1,000,000	1 album for Taylor Hicks Taylor Hicks: Platinum	January 17, 2007
18	Adam LambertS8 · Runner-up	500,000	1 album for Adam Lambert For Your Entertainment: Gold	June 22, 2010
18	Bo BiceS4 · Runner-up	500,000	1 album for Bo Bice The Real Thing: Gold	Not provided
18	David ArchuletaS7 · Runner-up	500,000	1 album for David Archuleta David Archuleta: Gold	January 29, 2009
18	Elliott YaminS5 · Eliminated 3rd	500,000	1 album for Elliott Yamin Elliott Yamin: Gold	October 12, 2007
18	Josh GracinS2 · Eliminated 4th	500,000	1 album for Josh Gracin Josh Gracin: Gold	Not provided
18	Kellie PicklerS5 · Eliminated 6th	500,000	1 album for Kellie Pickler Small Town Girl: Gold	Not provided