Top Newspaper Circulation: Who’s Leading the UK Print Market?

If you’ve ever wondered which British newspapers still sell the most copies, you’re in the right place. Even with smartphones and online news, the daily and Sunday papers keep moving off newsstands and into hands across the country. Below we break down the current circulation leaders, why those numbers matter, and where you can grab up‑to‑date stats for your own research.

Current Leaders in UK Print Circulation

At the top of the list you’ll generally find the Daily Mail, The Sun, and The Times. The Daily Mail still tops the weekly print market, pushing around 1.2 million copies a day. The Sun, a tabloid powerhouse, follows closely with just under a million daily sales. The Times, while more modest, maintains a strong subscription base of roughly 300,000, thanks to its mix of print and digital bundles.

On the Sunday side, the Sunday Times dominates, pulling in about 500,000 copies, while the Sunday Mirror and Daily Express round out the top five. Those numbers shift a bit each quarter, but the core group stays fairly steady because of long‑standing brand loyalty and the habit of weekend paper reading.

Why Circulation Numbers Still Count

Even in a digital world, circulation figures matter for advertisers, journalists, and media analysts. Advertisers look at the average daily readership to decide where to place ads that will actually be seen. Journalists use circulation trends to gauge how well a story is reaching the public, and media investors watch the numbers to assess a paper’s financial health.

One key thing to remember: circulation isn’t the same as readership. A single copy can be read by several people—think of a family sharing one paper or a coffee shop displaying a headline. That’s why organizations like the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) also publish “average readership” data, which gives a fuller picture of how many eyes a story really gets.

Another factor is the rise of paid digital subscriptions. Many papers now bundle print and online access, so their “print‑only” circulation might look smaller while the overall audience stays robust. When you compare numbers, always check whether they’re pure print copies or a combined print‑plus‑digital figure.

So, how can you stay on top of the latest circulation stats? The easiest route is to visit the ABC website, which updates weekly lists for most UK titles. You can also check each paper’s media kit—most large publications publish a PDF with the most recent figures for advertisers. For quick snapshots, news aggregators often quote the top three papers in their daily round‑ups.

If you’re a casual reader wondering whether it’s worth buying a print edition, think about what you value most. Some people love the tactile feeling of a newspaper, the Sunday crossword, or the deeper investigative pieces that still get printed. Others prefer the instant updates you get online. Knowing the circulation leaders helps you see which titles are still investing in quality print journalism.

Bottom line: the UK’s top newspaper circulation numbers show a resilient, if shrinking, market. The Daily Mail, The Sun, and The Times stay on top, but each paper is adapting by mixing print with digital to keep readers engaged. Keep an eye on ABC’s updates, and you’ll always know which papers are moving the most copies and why that matters for you and the media landscape.