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DA (Domain Authority) and PA (Page Authority) are two popular SEO metrics that estimate the authority of a site or page. The important truth: these are estimated scores from a third-party company called Moz, not Google's official ranking factor. Below you will honestly find what DA/PA are, whose metric they are, their differences, how they are calculated, and how they are raised.
What Are DA and PA, What Do They Stand For?
DA and PA are two popular metrics used in the SEO world to estimate the authority of a website or page. DA stands for Domain Authority and is a score that estimates how strong a whole website (the domain) might be in search engines. PA stands for Page Authority and estimates the authority of a single page of a site.
Both are expressed with a value between 0 and 100; the higher the number, the more authoritative that site or page is considered, and it is theoretically assumed to have the potential to perform better in search results. The metrics are used especially in backlink work and in comparing the strength of sites. A very important note is coming below: DA and PA are not Google's official values; they are estimated scores from a third-party company.
Whose Metric Are DA and PA? (Moz)
DA and PA are metrics developed and calculated by an SEO software company called Moz. That is, these are not official values belonging to Google but estimated scores Moz produces according to its own model. By crawling and analyzing links across the web, Moz turns how authoritative a site might look into a 0-100 score with its own algorithm.
Similarly, other SEO companies have their own authority metrics; for example Ahrefs' Domain Rating (DR) and URL Rating, or Semrush's Authority Score. All serve the same purpose but are independent estimates produced by different companies with different methods. So a site's DA on Moz and its DR on Ahrefs can come out different, because they are different models. In short, DA/PA is Moz's product and is widely used in the industry, but it is not an official fact, just a company's estimate.
Important: DA/PA Is Not Google's Official Ranking Factor
The most common misconception is this, let us clarify: DA and PA are not a ranking factor Google uses. When ranking, Google does not look at Moz's or any other company's DA/PA score; these are not part of Google's algorithm. Google has its own hundreds of ranking signals, and DA/PA is not one of them.
So why is DA/PA used then? Because it gives a practical and comparative idea about the strength of a site, especially its backlink profile; it serves as a rough strength indicator when evaluating a site you will get a link from or comparing competitors. Think of DA/PA like a useful compass, but not like Google's grade. Your real focus should be on the things Google truly cares about: quality content, user experience, technical soundness, E-E-A-T and real backlinks. I addressed the same topics as a whole in my organic traffic article; Google's ranking systems guide also summarizes the official view.
The Difference Between DA and PA
Both are Moz's authority metric but their scopes differ. DA (Domain Authority) evaluates a whole website, that is, the entire domain, and gives an idea about the strength of the site as a whole. PA (Page Authority) evaluates only a single page (a specific URL) and gives an idea about that page's own strength.
A simple analogy: DA is like a school's overall reputation, while PA is like the situation of a specific student in that school. The practical difference: not every page of a strong site (high DA) is automatically strong; a new or lightly-linked page can have a low PA. Conversely, a single strong page (high PA) that receives quality links can stand out. In SEO, you look at DA when talking about overall site strength, and at PA when talking about a specific page's strength.
What Are DA/PA Calculated On, What Is a Good Value?
DA and PA are based mainly on a site's or page's backlink profile; that is, from how many different sites and at what quality links come to it. Moz evaluates factors like the number of links, the quality of the linking sites and the overall link structure with its own model and produces a 0-100 score. When interpreting, knowing a few points is valuable:
- Logarithmic: going from 20 to 30 is relatively easy, going from 70 to 80 is much harder.
- Relative: the question "how much is a good DA" has no absolute answer; compare the value with your competitors.
- Sector-dependent: if the sites in your sector are around 30, your 35 is good, while comparison with giant news sites (90+) is meaningless.
- New site: starting with a low DA/PA is normal and rises over time with quality links.
Do not obsess over the score; the right approach is to use it not as an absolute target but as an indicator for tracking your progress over time. I addressed link quality in my backlink article.
How Is the DA and PA Value Checked?
There are various free and paid tools to check DA and PA values. The most direct source is Moz, because DA/PA is its metric; with Moz's free Link Explorer tool or the browser extension MozBar you can look at a site's DA and PA value. Many third-party tools on the internet that do "DA PA lookup" also offer a quick check using Moz data.
Pay attention to a few points when checking. Different tools can show different metrics (like Moz DA/PA, Ahrefs DR/UR), so do not confuse them. Free bulk lookup tools can sometimes show outdated or estimated data; the most accurate source is Moz itself. The value is updated from time to time and can fluctuate, so look at the trend rather than a single instant measurement. For regular tracking, an extension like MozBar lets you quickly see DA/PA while browsing; still, use these values not as SEO's only measure but as a helper indicator.
How Are DA and PA Raised?
Because DA/PA is based mainly on the backlink profile, the way to raise them goes through healthy SEO and link work, which already helps you on Google too. Earn quality backlinks: getting natural links from trustworthy and authoritative sites relevant to your field is the most important factor that raises DA/PA, and quality matters more than quantity.
Produce valuable content, because original and useful content that people naturally want to link to is the most sustainable link source. Building the internal link structure tidily helps page authority (PA) spread within the site. Avoid spam or bought links; low-quality link networks are both unsustainable for DA/PA and carry serious risk in Google's eyes. An important reminder: your goal should be not "inflating the DA number" but earning real authority and quality links; DA/PA is a by-product indicator of this. SEO done right improves both your DA/PA and, what truly matters, your Google ranking together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers for readers who skipped to the end.
What are DA and PA, what do they stand for?
Who determines DA and PA values, what is Moz?
If DA/PA is high, do I automatically rank top on Google?
What is the difference between DA and PA?
What are DA/PA calculated on, what should a good value be?
How do I check my DA and PA value?
How are DA and PA raised?
