| Album Cover | Date of Release | Title | U.S. Sales | Chart positions | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | July 25, 1983 | Kill 'Em All | 3 million | U.S. #120 (1986) | 3xPlatinum US, Gold UK |
 | November 16, 1984 | Ride the Lightning | 5 million | U.S. #100, UK #87 | 5xPlatinum US, Gold UK |
 | February 21, 1986 | Master of Puppets | 6 million | U.S. #29, UK #41 | 6xPlatinum US, Gold UK |
 | October, 1987 | The $5.98 E.P.: Garage Days Re-Revisited (EP) | 1 million | U.S. #28, UK #27 | Platinum US, |
 | August 25, 1988 | ...And Justice for All | 8 million | U.S. #6, UK #4 | 8xPlatinum US, Silver UK, Gold Germany, Platinum Switzerland, Gold Norway |
 | August 12, 1991 | Metallica (The Black Album) | 14 million | U.S. #1, UK #1 | 14xPlatinum US, Platinum UK, Platinum Germany, Platinum Finland, 2xPlatinum Switzerland, Platinum Austria, Gold Poland, 2xPlatinum Holland, Platinum Norway. |
 | November 23, 1993 | Live Shit: Binge & Purge | 1.5 million | U.S. #26, UK #54 | Live boxset containing a 3 disc audio recording of a 1993 Mexico City show and a video of a 1992 San Diego show. The set included a video of a 1989 performance in Seattle. |
 | June 4, 1996 | Load | 5 million | U.S. #1, UK #1 | 5xPlatinum US, Gold UK, Platinum Germany, Platinum Finland, 2xPlatinum IFPI(Europe), Platinum Austria, Platinum Poland, Platinum Norway, Gold Brazil, Gold Holland. |
 | November 18, 1997 | ReLoad | 3 million | U.S. #1, UK # 4 | 3xPlatinum US, Gold UK, Platinum Finland, 2xPlatinum Canada, 2xPlatinum Australia, Platinum Germany, Platinum IFPI(Europe), Platinum Switzerland, Platinum Poland, Gold Austria |
 | November 24, 1998 | Garage Inc. | 5 million | U.S. #2, UK #29 | 5xPlatinum US, Platinum Germany, Platinum Australia, Platinum IFPI(Europe), Platinum Poland, Platinum Sweden, Gold Switzerland, Gold Austria, Gold Finland, Gold Norway |
 | November 23, 1999 | S&M | 4 million | U.S. #2, UK #33 | 4xPlatinum US, Platinum Germany, Platinum Poland, Platinum Sweden, 2xPlatinum IFPI(Europe), 2xPlatinum Switzerland, Platinum Australia, Platinum Austria, Gold Finland |
 | June 5, 2003 | St. Anger | 2 million | U.S. #1, UK #3 | 2xPlatinum US, Gold UK, 2xPlatinum Germany, Platinum Finland, 2xPlatinum Canada, 2xPlatinum Australia, Platinum Norway, Platinum Sweden, Platinum IFPI(Europe), Platinum Switzerland, Platinum Austria, Gold Brazil, Gold Poland, Gold Holland. |
 | June 13, 2004 | Some Kind of Monster (EP) | U.S #37 | Released in contribution to the Some Kind of Monster documentary. |
