Biggest-Selling Christmas Songs of All Time

From classic tunes to modern hits that have captured the spirit of the holiday season, explore the timeless magic of the biggest-selling Christmas songs.

Biggest Selling Christmas Songs of All Time

In the festive realm of holiday tunes, some songs stand out as timeless favorites. These beloved melodies have not only captured hearts but also topped the charts to become some of the biggest-selling Christmas songs of all time.

From classics that have been around for decades to modern hits that define the season, these songs create a musical backdrop that brings the magic of Christmas to life.

Jingle Bells – Bing Crosby and The Andrew Sisters (Tie)

Copies sold worldwide: 6 million

Year released: 1943

"Jingle Bells," written by composer James Lord Pierpont in the mid-19th century, was originally titled "One Horse Open Sleigh" and was not originally intended as a Christmas song. Instead, it was written for Thanksgiving or drinking celebrations. It became a Christmas song in the latter part of the century, as it was generally associated with colder weather.

While there have been hundreds of versions of the song ever since, Bing Crosby's is the highest-selling of all. It was on his 1943 album "Merry Christmas," which has remained in print ever since its release and it often manages to chart to this day.

The Little Drummer Boy – Harry Simeone Chorale (Tie)

Copies sold worldwide: 6 million

Year released: 1958

"Little Drummer Boy" is based on "Carol of the Drum" composed in 1941 by American school teacher Katherine Davis who based her version on a Czech folk tune entitled "Tlue bubeníek." The song was further transformed by The Trapp Family Singers (of "The Sound of Music" fame) when they recorded it in 1951. A few years later, composer Jack Halloran restructured the song as we know it today, but his version was never released.

Enter Dot Records executive Henry Onorati, who brought Halloran's version to the attention of arranger and conductor Harry Simeone. Simeone made minor adjustments to the arrangement, retitled the song and enlisted many of Halloran's singers.

This recording of "The Little Drummer Boy" became a colossal hit, charting from 1958 to 1962.

Last Christmas – Wham!

Copies sold worldwide: 6.1 million

Year released: 1986

"Last Christmas" was released in 1984 and has since become one of the most iconic and enduring Christmas tunes of all time. George Michael wrote and produced the song, which tells a tale of unrequited love during the holiday season.

The song is so popular today that there's even a game around it — Whamaggedon! The goal is to go as long as possible without hearing "Last Christmas," from December 1st to the end of December 24th. (Only the original version of the song applies.) As soon as you recognize the song, you're out of the game and must post on social media that you've heard it with the #whamageddon hashtag.

Jingle Bell Rock – Bobby Helms

Copies sold worldwide: 10 million +

Year released: 1957

Written by Joe Beal and Jim Boothe, the song incorporates a mix of early rock n' roll and traditional Christmas elements.

Helms, a county singer, was reluctant to record the song, but it was instant smash when it was played on Dick Clark's "American Bandstand" in 1957. Within five years, it was a million seller for Helms and a Christmas staple.

Toward the end of his life, Helms said of the song, "I didn’t want to do the song when they first brought it to me, but now I'm sure glad I did."

Do They Know It's Christmas – Band Aid

Copies sold worldwide: 11.7 million

Year released: 1984

Written by Sir Bob Geldof, the then lead singer of the Boomtown Rats, and Midge Ure of Ultravox, "Do They Know It's Christmas" was recorded to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia, as there was a severe famine affecting the country at the time.

Geldof was deeply moved by the images of suffering and starvation that he saw of the famine on TV and rallied his music industry friends to contribute to the track. Bono, George Michael, Phil Collins and David Bowie were among some of the legends who took part in the recording over the course of 24 hours on November 25, 1984, at SARM West Studios in London.

The success of Band Aid and the charity single inspired similar efforts in other countries, such as USA for Africa's "We Are the World." The song has been re-recorded and re-released multiple times over the years, with the proceeds continuing to support various causes.

The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late) – The Chipmunks and David Seville

Copies sold worldwide: 12 million

Year released: 1958

Released in 1958, this novelty song that everyone either loves or hates features Alvin, Simon and Theodore, otherwise known as The Chipmunks. They are the creation of Ross Bagdasarian Sr., aka, David Seville, and are known for their high-pitched, sped-up voices, which were achieved by recording Bagdasarian's vocals at a slower speed and then playing them back at normal speed.

"The Chipmunk Song" not only reached the top of the charts but it also won three Grammys in 1959, including Best Comedy Performance.

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer – Gene Autry

Copies sold worldwide: 12 million

Year released: 1949

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was created by copywriter Robert L. May as a character in a promotional booklet for the department store Montgomery Ward in 1939. Rudolph is a young reindeer who is ostracized by his peers because of his unusually red and shiny nose. However, on one foggy Christmas Eve, Santa Claus recognizes his unique ability to light the way and he asks him to lead his sleigh. Rudolph's glowing nose proves to be an invaluable asset, allowing Santa to deliver presents to children all over the world.

The song "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was later written by Johnny Marks (who wrote many a Christmas classic, including "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" and "A Holly Jolly Christmas") and recorded by Gene Autry in 1949. While it's been rerecorded dozens of times and today is most well known via the 1964 Rankin/Bass stop motion-animated TV movie, which still airs today, Autry's version has sold the most copies.

All I Want for Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey

Copies sold worldwide: 16 million

Year released: 1994

Are you sick of it yet? "All I Want for Christmas Is You" is one of the most popular songs in the Christmas canon and we start hearing it immediately following Halloween — well, that's when singer Mariah Cary releases her annual introduction to the song on social media, anyway.

Since its release, it has only grown in popularity — it's said Carey rakes in about $3 million a year on the song — and has solidified her reputation as the "Queen of Christmas." As we type, it stands at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 2023.

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee

Copies sold worldwide: 25 million

Year released: 1958

And what song stands at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 as we write this? None other than Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree." Lee recorded the track at the age of 13 — now 78, she has secured her position as the oldest woman to reach the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

She said of the feat, "The song came out when I was a young teenager, and now to know that it has resonated with multiple generations and continues to resonate — it is one of the best gifts I have ever received. Keep on Rockin’ and Merry Christmas!"

White Christmas – Bing Crosby

Copies sold worldwide: 50 million +

Year released: 1942

Irving Berlin wrote "White Christmas" for the 1942 film "Holiday Inn" and the song has been beloved ever since. After earning the Oscar for Best Original Song, Crosby's rendition dominated the Billboard chart for 11 weeks that year. It went on to reclaim the top spots in December of 1943 and 1944 and has reentered the chart numerous times.

It has, so far, peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 2023 — not too shabby for an 81-year-old song! While there are many versions out there, Crosby's rendition stands as the best-selling worldwide.