What Does it Mean To Be A “New York Times Bestselling Author”?

Image credit: New York Times

June 21, 2026

If you are anything like me, you’ve seen “New York Times Bestseller” on the cover of a book and trusted that it was “better” than other books (in some vague way) while not knowing exactly what the statement means. I just started reading The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson (available to purchase here), which is a “New York Times Bestseller,” so I’m here to answer your questions and explain exactly what this commendation actually signifies.

The New York Times has published a weekly list of best-selling books since 1931. The list is run by 3 New York Times employees who devote their jobs to publishing it every Wednesday. (To read more on the process, check out this article.) Some of the categories are Print & E-Book Fiction (and, separately, non-fiction), Children’s and Young Adult Series, and Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous, but there are 11 categories total. The top five in each category are listed and every week, 55 books are named a “New York Times Bestseller.” Most books stay in the list for more than one week, but about 26% only make the cut for one. The New York Times has yet to reveal exactly how the lists are made, but the formula is primarily book sales, which are usually required to be between 5 to 10 thousand sold, but no one knows the other deciding factors. The list has been criticized for this reason, as many wish the company would disclose its process to the public. It is also technically more of an opinion column than a compilation of books backed purely by the numbers. Regardless, the list has featured tens of thousands of books and provides authors with publicity for their works.

What is the difference between a Bestseller and a Bestselling Author? The difference is decently substantial. When an author’s book makes it on the list, they are now a “Best-Selling Author.” This means that if they have had a Best-Selling book at any point in their career, they can now add this label to the front of their book. While it makes sense, I was surprised to find this out (and am now on the lookout for the two types of statements on book covers when I go to my local bookstores and libraries).

I hope you enjoyed this article and learned something new about what you see on book covers! For more about books, return to the home page or comment below what your favorite New York Times Bestseller is!