Why Domain Authority Isn’t a Fixed Score

Many assume once you hit a Domain Authority (DA) score—say, 45 or 60—it’s locked in. But DA doesn’t work that way. It’s a relative, recalculated metric, and your score can change even if you don’t touch your site.

In this page, we’ll explain why Domain Authority isn’t static, what makes it fluctuate, and how to interpret score changes the right way.

The Nature of DA as a Relative Metric

Unlike hard metrics like bounce rate or number of backlinks, DA is comparative. Moz calculates your DA based on:

•   The strength of your backlink profile
•   How it compares to other domains in their index
•   A logarithmic scale from 1 to 100

As other websites gain or lose links, your position in that ecosystem shifts—whether or not you’ve changed anything.

DA Scores Are Recalculated Regularly

Moz updates Domain Authority scores approximately every 3 to 4 weeks. Each update includes:

To find them:

•   Moz updates Domain Authority scores approximately every 3 to 4 weeks. Each update includes:
•   Devaluation of spammy domains
•   Algorithmic refinements to scoring
•   Changes to the total link graph

So if your DA moves from 40 to 38 or up to 42, it may be due to index-wide changes, not your site’s performance.

See Why Domain Authority Scores Fluctuate for deeper insights into what causes these variations.

Your DA Is Influenced by What Competitors Do

Because DA is relative, your score can shift based on other domains gaining or losing authority.

•   A new player in your industry rapidly builds high-quality backlinks
•   A competitor you once outperformed improves their internal linking
•   A group of spammy sites gets deindexed, redistributing DA

This is why it’s important to view DA as part of your competitive SEO analysis. Refer to How to Use DA to Evaluate Competitors for a practical guide.

DA Scales Logarithmically, Not Linearly

Moving from DA 10 to 20 is much easier than moving from 60 to 70. This is because DA is logarithmic, meaning the effort required increases as the score gets higher.

That’s why:

•   A 2-point drop at DA 70 is not equal to a 2-point drop at DA 20
•   A 2-point drop at DA 70 is not equal to a 2-point drop at DA 20
•   Scores plateau more easily as authority increases

Scores plateau more easily as authority increases

You might launch a brilliant campaign, earn press mentions, and build solid links—but your DA doesn’t change for a month. Why?

DA is not updated in real time. It takes Moz’s crawlers time to:

•   Find your new backlinks
•   Evaluate their quality
•   Integrate them into the DA algorithm

This delay doesn’t mean your SEO effort failed. It just means DA is a lagging indicator, not a live KPI.

Why DA Decreases Even If You’ve Done “Nothing Wrong”

Many panic when DA drops, but here are legitimate reasons unrelated to any SEO mistakes:

•   Competitors improved more than you did
•   Moz re-weighted link values or made algorithm changes
•   You lost some passive links over time
•   Index-wide spam cleanup affected shared domains

If your rankings, traffic, and engagement remain stable or growing—there’s likely no real problem.

How to Interpret DA Trends Over Time

Instead of reacting to every fluctuation, focus on long-term patterns:

•   Is your DA trending upward over 6–12 months?
•   Are your backlinks growing in both quantity and quality?
•   Are your rankings improving for competitive terms?

Combine this view with other metrics like Page Authority (PA), organic traffic, and domain-level keyword visibility.

Final Advice: Track DA—but Don’t Obsess Over It

Domain Authority is useful—but it’s a moving target, not a fixed trophy. It shifts with the SEO landscape, making it more of a trendline than a scoreboard.

Focus on improving what DA responds to:

•   High-quality backlinks
•   Internal link strength
•   Topical authority
•   Fresh and helpful content

See How Often Should You Check Your DA to build a smarter tracking habit.

Grow With the Metric—Don’t Chase It

DA isn’t a finish line. It’s a reflection of your SEO momentum relative to everyone else. Keep doing the right things, and your authority—DA included—will naturally follow.

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For more ongoing insights, continue through our full Domain Authority Guide or scroll through the Blog - where we decode complex SEO signals into simple, actionable advice.