This list includes music artists with at least 5 million record sales in Germany, based on certifications by the BVMI (Bundesverband Musikindustrie).[1] Artists are ranked in descending order.
Awards are only presented if and when a record company applies for certification, it is not done automatically. Only records that were declared to and registered by the BVMI receive awards. The BVMI began its certifications in 1975, therefore popular artists from earlier eras are generally not represented on this list. This excludes artists such as Peter Alexander, Freddy Quinn, Caterina Valente, or the Rolling Stones. Certifications are based on a record's release date.[2]
Video albums have been included since 1991 and streaming since 2016.[3] Until 5 April 2018, a unit was equal to 1000 streams for albums and 100 streams for singles. Those numbers were raised to 2000 streams for albums and 200 streams for singles on 6 April of that year.[4]
Artists by certified units
13 million records or more
| Name | Nationality | Certification period | Certified units |
| Herbert Grönemeyer |  German | 1984–2018 | 18,075,000 |
| Peter Maffay | German | 1979–2018 | 14,350,000 |
| Phil Collins |  British | 1981–2011 | 14,300,000 |
| Rolf Zuckowski | German | 1989–2012 | 13,975,000 |
| Die Toten Hosen | German | 1989–2018 | 13,650,000 |
11 to 12,9 million records
| Name | Nationality | Certification period | Certified units |
| Queen | British | 1978–2018 | 12,625,000 |
| Madonna |  American | 1985–2012 | 12,550,000 |
| Marius Müller-Westernhagen | German | 1981–2017 | 12,075,000 |
| Michael Jackson | American | 1983–2014 | 11,275,000 |
| Helene Fischer | German | 2007–2018 | 11,150,000 |
9 to 10,9 million records
| Name | Nationality | Certification period | Certified units |
| AC/DC |  Australian | 1980–2016 | 10,600,000 |
| Robbie Williams | British | 2000–2018 |
| ABBA |  Swedish | 1976–2008 | 10,550,000 |
| Rihanna |  Barbadian | 2007–2018 | 10,400,000 |
| Andrea Berg | German | 2002–2017 | 9,600,000 |
| Elton John | British | 1982–2004 | 9,550,000 |
| Pur | German | 1993–2017 | 9,525,000 |
| Ed Sheeran | British | 2012–2018 | 9,000,000 |
7 to 8,9 million records
| Name | Nationality | Certification period | Certified units |
| Die Flippers | German | 1987–2012 | 8,650,000 |
| Céline Dion |  Canada | 1996–2003 | 8,000,000 |
| Die Ärzte | German | 1988–2012 | 7,850,000 |
| Wolfgang Petry | German | 1983–2014 | 7,825,000 |
| David Guetta |  French | 2010–2018 | 7,800,000 |
| The Beatles | British | 1993–2007 | 7,600,000 |
| Pink Floyd | British | 1977–2015 | 7,500,000 |
6 to 6,9 million records
| Name | Nationality | Certification period | Certified units |
| Bee Gees | British
Australian | 1978–2005 | 6,675,000 |
| Eminem | American | 2000–2018 | 6,625,000 |
| Backstreet Boys | American | 1996–2003 | 6,500,000 |
| Dieter Bohlen | German | 1985–2017 | 6,400,000 |
| Tina Turner | American
 Swiss | 1985–2009 | 6,300,000 |
| Roger Whittaker | British | 1977–2011 | 6,100,000 |
| The Kelly Family |  Irish
American | 1994–2017 | 6,075,000 |
| Joe Cocker | British | 1986–2014 | 6,050,000 |
| Depeche Mode | British | 1985–2017 |
| Andrea Bocelli |  Italian | 1996–1999 | 6,000,000 |
5 to 5,9 million records
| Name | Nationality | Certification period | Certified units |
| Eros Ramazzotti | Italian | 1988–2013 | 5,950,000 |
| BAP | German | 1982–2013 | 5,900,000 |
| Genesis | British | 1978–2008 | 5,875,000 |
| P!nk | American | 2002–2017 |
| Linkin Park | American | 2001–2017 | 5,850,000 |
| U2 | Irish | 1986–2018 |
| Modern Talking | German | 1985–2003 | 5,700,000 |
| Xavier Naidoo | German | 1998–2016 | 5,625,000 |
| Roxette | Swedish | 1990–2012 |
| Sting | British | 1986–2012 | 5,600,000 |
| Whitney Houston | American | 1986–2009 | 5,400,000 |
| Simply Red | British | 1986–2013 | 5,350,000 |
| Britney Spears | American | 1999–2018 |
| James Last | German | 1976–1999 | 5,250,000 |
| Avicii | Swedish | 2012–2018 | 5,200,000 |
| Timbaland | American | 2000–2018 |
| Unheilig | German | 2010–2017 |
| Bon Jovi | American | 1987–2013 | 5,150,000 |
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