# List of Billboard 200 number-one albums of 1981

The Billboard 200, published in Billboard magazine, is a weekly chart that ranks the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States. Before Nielsen SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991, Billboard estimated the sales for the album charts from a representative sampling of record stores nationwide, which was gathered by telephone, fax or messenger service. The data was based on reports from record stores, who ranked the popularity of the best-selling records but did not provide an actual sales figures.

## Chart history

Key :
| † | Indicates best performing album of 1981 |
| Issue date | Album | Artist(s) | Label |
| January 3 | Double Fantasy | John Lennon and Yoko Ono | Geffen |
| January 10 | Double Fantasy | John Lennon and Yoko Ono | Geffen |
| January 17 | Double Fantasy | John Lennon and Yoko Ono | Geffen |
| January 24 | Double Fantasy | John Lennon and Yoko Ono | Geffen |
| January 31 | Double Fantasy | John Lennon and Yoko Ono | Geffen |
| February 7 | Double Fantasy | John Lennon and Yoko Ono | Geffen |
| February 14 | Double Fantasy | John Lennon and Yoko Ono | Geffen |
| February 21 | Hi Infidelity † | REO Speedwagon | Epic |
| February 28 | Hi Infidelity † | REO Speedwagon | Epic |
| March 7 | Hi Infidelity † | REO Speedwagon | Epic |
| March 14 | Hi Infidelity † | REO Speedwagon | Epic |
| March 21 | Hi Infidelity † | REO Speedwagon | Epic |
| March 28 | Hi Infidelity † | REO Speedwagon | Epic |
| April 4 | Paradise Theatre | Styx | A&M |
| April 11 | Paradise Theatre | Styx | A&M |
| April 18 | Hi Infidelity † | REO Speedwagon | Epic |
| April 25 | Hi Infidelity † | REO Speedwagon | Epic |
| May 2 | Hi Infidelity † | REO Speedwagon | Epic |
| May 9 | Paradise Theatre | Styx | A&M |
| May 16 | Hi Infidelity † | REO Speedwagon | Epic |
| May 23 | Hi Infidelity † | REO Speedwagon | Epic |
| May 30 | Hi Infidelity † | REO Speedwagon | Epic |
| June 6 | Hi Infidelity † | REO Speedwagon | Epic |
| June 13 | Hi Infidelity † | REO Speedwagon | Epic |
| June 20 | Hi Infidelity † | REO Speedwagon | Epic |
| June 27 | Mistaken Identity | Kim Carnes | EMI America |
| July 4 | Mistaken Identity | Kim Carnes | EMI America |
| July 11 | Mistaken Identity | Kim Carnes | EMI America |
| July 18 | Mistaken Identity | Kim Carnes | EMI America |
| July 25 | Long Distance Voyager | The Moody Blues | Threshold |
| August 1 | Long Distance Voyager | The Moody Blues | Threshold |
| August 8 | Long Distance Voyager | The Moody Blues | Threshold |
| August 15 | Precious Time | Pat Benatar | Chrysalis |
| August 22 | 4 | Foreigner | Atlantic |
| August 29 | 4 | Foreigner | Atlantic |
| September 5 | Bella Donna | Stevie Nicks | Modern |
| September 12 | Escape | Journey | Columbia |
| September 19 | Tattoo You | The Rolling Stones | Rolling Stones |
| September 26 | Tattoo You | The Rolling Stones | Rolling Stones |
| October 3 | Tattoo You | The Rolling Stones | Rolling Stones |
| October 10 | Tattoo You | The Rolling Stones | Rolling Stones |
| October 17 | Tattoo You | The Rolling Stones | Rolling Stones |
| October 24 | Tattoo You | The Rolling Stones | Rolling Stones |
| October 31 | Tattoo You | The Rolling Stones | Rolling Stones |
| November 7 | Tattoo You | The Rolling Stones | Rolling Stones |
| November 14 | Tattoo You | The Rolling Stones | Rolling Stones |
| November 21 | 4 | Foreigner | Atlantic |
| November 28 | 4 | Foreigner | Atlantic |
| December 5 | 4 | Foreigner | Atlantic |
| December 12 | 4 | Foreigner | Atlantic |
| December 19 | 4 | Foreigner | Atlantic |
| December 26 | For Those About to Rock We Salute You | AC/DC | Atlantic |