What is Amazon BSR and how is it calculated?
Best Sellers Rank (BSR) is a category ranking updated hourly based on recent and historical sales velocity in that category. A BSR of 1 is the top seller in the category. Recent sales weigh most, but historical velocity keeps rankings stable so a single spike does not flip the top spot.
The inputs Amazon uses
Recent unit sales in that specific category, historical sales over the past weeks and months, and category size. Amazon does not publish the exact formula, but recency dominates: a strong 24-hour push can move BSR sharply, then it decays over days.
BSR per category, not per ASIN
A product can have a BSR in its main category and in each subcategory it appears in. The main category BSR is what shoppers see on the detail page.
What BSR is not
It is not a direct sales-volume number. Category size, price band, and competition mean BSR 500 in one category can equal BSR 50,000 in another in unit terms.
Frequently asked questions
How often does BSR update?
Hourly, though the main category BSR displayed publicly can lag by a few hours.
Do refunds affect BSR?
Yes. Refunded units are excluded from the sales counted toward BSR.
Do FBM sales count toward BSR?
Yes. BSR includes all sales of the ASIN regardless of fulfilment method.
Does Nova track my own BSR?
Yes. Nova tracks BSR history for your own ASINs (Nova does not track competitor BSR).
See this in Nova
Nova surfaces this metric per SKU in near real time so you can act before your next monthly close catches it.
Try Nova free for 14 daysRelated questions
Why is my Buy Box percentage dropping?
Buy Box share drops for four reasons: a competitor undercut your price by more than 2%, your FBA in-stock rate slipped, seller performance metrics (late shipment, cancellation, defect) crossed a threshold, or Amazon added its own retail offer. Fixing the first three usually restores share within 24 to 72 hours.
How do I check if my Amazon listing is indexed for a keyword?
To check indexing, search Amazon for the keyword + your ASIN. If your listing appears in the results, you are indexed for that term. If not, Amazon has not indexed the keyword against your ASIN. Do this monthly on your top 30 keywords; missing indexing on a target keyword blocks all organic and paid impressions for it.
What is a good conversion rate on Amazon?
A good Amazon conversion rate sits between 10% and 15% for a well-optimised listing with 100+ reviews. Categories vary: supplements and pet supplies convert at 15%+, apparel at 5% to 10%, electronics at 8% to 12%. Under 5% almost always signals a listing problem (price, images, or reviews), not a traffic problem.
How do I run an Amazon listing audit?
A full listing audit takes 20 minutes per SKU. Check title length and keyword front-loading, main image quality and gallery count, price versus SERP median, review count and star rating, A+ content presence, and Buy Box share. Score each on a 0 to 3 scale; anything under 2 is a fix priority.
How do I fix a suppressed Amazon listing?
Suppressed listings do not appear in search. Fix them in Seller Central under Inventory > Manage Inventory > Suppressed. Amazon lists the reason next to each ASIN, usually a missing title character, missing main image, prohibited claim, or category compliance failure. Most fixes push live within 15 minutes.