# List of Billboard 200 number-one albums of 1987

The highest-selling albums and EPs in the United States are ranked in the Billboard 200, which is published by Billboard magazine. The data are compiled by Nielsen Soundscan based on each album's weekly physical and digital sales. In 1987, a total 9 albums reached the number one position.
The beginning of the year started with the continuation of the end of last year's number one album, Live 1975-85 by Bruce Springsteen, but was quickly overtaken by Bon Jovi, and Slippery When Wet, which returned to the top spot, and became their first number one album. Whitney Houston scored her second #1 with Whitney, which had the longest run among the releases, spending 11 consecutive weeks at the top. The album became the first by a female artist ever to debut at #1 in the Billboard 200, and produced a then-record-equaling four #1 singles from one album; which was broken two months later when Michael Jackson's Bad produced five number ones. Whitney is one of only nine albums in music history to produce at least four #1 Hot 100 hits from the same album. Both U2 and Beastie Boys gained their first number one albums, with The Joshua Tree, and Licensed to Ill.

## Chart history

Key :
| † | Indicates best performing album of 1987 |
| Issue date | Album | Artist(s) | Label |
| January 3 | Live/1975–85 | Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band | Columbia |
| January 10 | Live/1975–85 | Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band | Columbia |
| January 17 | Slippery When Wet † | Bon Jovi | Mercury |
| January 24 | Slippery When Wet † | Bon Jovi | Mercury |
| January 31 | Slippery When Wet † | Bon Jovi | Mercury |
| February 7 | Slippery When Wet † | Bon Jovi | Mercury |
| February 14 | Slippery When Wet † | Bon Jovi | Mercury |
| February 21 | Slippery When Wet † | Bon Jovi | Mercury |
| February 28 | Slippery When Wet † | Bon Jovi | Mercury |
| March 7 | Licensed to Ill | Beastie Boys | Def Jam |
| March 14 | Licensed to Ill | Beastie Boys | Def Jam |
| March 21 | Licensed to Ill | Beastie Boys | Def Jam |
| March 28 | Licensed to Ill | Beastie Boys | Def Jam |
| April 4 | Licensed to Ill | Beastie Boys | Def Jam |
| April 11 | Licensed to Ill | Beastie Boys | Def Jam |
| April 18 | Licensed to Ill | Beastie Boys | Def Jam |
| April 25 | The Joshua Tree | U2 | Island |
| May 2 | The Joshua Tree | U2 | Island |
| May 9 | The Joshua Tree | U2 | Island |
| May 16 | The Joshua Tree | U2 | Island |
| May 23 | The Joshua Tree | U2 | Island |
| May 30 | The Joshua Tree | U2 | Island |
| June 6 | The Joshua Tree | U2 | Island |
| June 13 | The Joshua Tree | U2 | Island |
| June 20 | The Joshua Tree | U2 | Island |
| June 27 | Whitney | Whitney Houston | Arista |
| July 4 | Whitney | Whitney Houston | Arista |
| July 11 | Whitney | Whitney Houston | Arista |
| July 18 | Whitney | Whitney Houston | Arista |
| July 25 | Whitney | Whitney Houston | Arista |
| August 1 | Whitney | Whitney Houston | Arista |
| August 8 | Whitney | Whitney Houston | Arista |
| August 15 | Whitney | Whitney Houston | Arista |
| August 22 | Whitney | Whitney Houston | Arista |
| August 29 | Whitney | Whitney Houston | Arista |
| September 5 | Whitney | Whitney Houston | Arista |
| September 12 | La Bamba | Los Lobos / Soundtrack | Slash |
| September 19 | La Bamba | Los Lobos / Soundtrack | Slash |
| September 26 | Bad | Michael Jackson | Epic |
| October 3 | Bad | Michael Jackson | Epic |
| October 10 | Bad | Michael Jackson | Epic |
| October 17 | Bad | Michael Jackson | Epic |
| October 24 | Bad | Michael Jackson | Epic |
| October 31 | Bad | Michael Jackson | Epic |
| November 7 | Tunnel of Love | Bruce Springsteen | Columbia |
| November 14 | Dirty Dancing | Soundtrack | RCA Victor |
| November 21 | Dirty Dancing | Soundtrack | RCA Victor |
| November 28 | Dirty Dancing | Soundtrack | RCA Victor |
| December 5 | Dirty Dancing | Soundtrack | RCA Victor |
| December 12 | Dirty Dancing | Soundtrack | RCA Victor |
| December 19 | Dirty Dancing | Soundtrack | RCA Victor |
| December 26 | Dirty Dancing | Soundtrack | RCA Victor |