A is a type of popular literature novel from Japan usually classified as young adult fiction, generally targeting teens or older. The abbreviation of "raito noberu" is ranobe (ラノベ) or, in English, LN. The average length of a light novel is about 50,000 words.
The following is a list of the best-selling Japanese light novel series to date in terms of the number of collected volumes sold. All series in this list have at least 5 million copies in circulation. This list is limited to Japanese lightnovels only. The series are listed according to the highest sales or circulation (copies in print) estimate of their collected volumes as reported in reliable sources unless indicated otherwise. Ties are arranged in alphabetical order.
Collected volumes At least 10 million copies and above NameAuthorPublisherNo. ofcollectedvolumesDate serializedApproximate salesThat Time I Got Reincarnated as a SlimeFuseMicro Magazine232013–2015 (web novel)2014–2025 (light novel)62+ million (includes physical and digital sales as well as related books and manga adaptations)The Apothecary DiariesHyūganatsuShufunotomo162011–present (web novel)2014–present (light novel)57 million (includes manga adaptations)Guin SagaKaoru Kurimoto, Yu GodaiHayakawa Publishing1491979–202433 millionA Certain Magical IndexKazuma KamachiASCII Media Works512004–2010 (first story)2011–2019 (second story: New testament)2020–present (third story: Genesis testament)31 million (including spin-offs and manga adaptations)Sword Art OnlineReki KawaharaASCII Media Works292002–2008 (web novel)2009–present (light novel)30 million (including spin-offs)The Irregular at Magic High SchoolTsutomu SatōASCII Media Works322008–2011 (web novel)2011–2020 (light novel)2020–present (sequel light novel)2021–present (spin-off light novel)30 million(including spin-offs and manga adaptations)SlayersHajime KanzakaFujimi Shobo171989–present22 million(including spin-offs and manga adaptations) Haruhi SuzumiyaNagaru TanigawaKadokawa Shoten132003–present20 million (includes manga adaptation)Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?Fujino ŌmoriSB Creative212013–present20 million (including spin-offs and manga adaptations)Mushoku TenseiRifujin na MagonoteMedia Factory262012–2015 (web novel)2013–2016 (spin-off web novel)2014–2022 (light novel)2023–present (spin-off light novel)18 million (includes physical and digital sales as well as related books and manga adaptations)Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another WorldTappei NagatsukiMedia Factory452012–present (web novel)2014–present (light novel)2015–present (spin-off light novel)16 million (includes physical and digital editions as well as related books and manga adaptations)Kagerou ProjectShizen no Teki-PEnterbrain82012–201715 million (includes manga adaptation)My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I ExpectedWataru WatariShogakukan142011–202115 millionOverlordKugane MaruyamaEnterbrain162010–2012 (web novel) 2012–present (light novel)14 million (including spin-offs and manga adaptations)Sorcerous Stabber OrphenYoshinobu AkitaFujimi Shobo201994–200314 million (including spin-offs and manga adaptations)Ascendance of a BookwormMiya KazukiTO Books33 2013–2017 (web novel) 2015–2023 (light novel) 2017–present (spin-off web novel) 2024–present (spin-off light novel)14 millionThe Rising of the Shield HeroAneko YusagiMedia Factory222012–present (web novel) 2013–present (light novel)13 million (including manga adaptation)The Twelve KingdomsFuyumi OnoKodansha91992–present12 millionFull Metal Panic!Shoji GatohFujimi Shobo231998–201111.5 million (including manga adaptations)Classroom of the EliteShōgo KinugasaMedia Factory312015–present10.8 millionMishio FukazawaKadokawa Shoten481989–202010 millionGoblin SlayerKumo KagyuSB Creative162016–present10 millionKonoSubaNatsume AkatsukiKadokawa Shoten172012–2013 (web novel)2013–2020 (light novel)10 millionRecord of Lodoss WarRyo MizunoKadokawa Shoten71988–199310 million
At least 5 million and below 10 million copies NameAuthorPublisherNo. ofcollectedvolumesDate serializedApproximate salesThe Saga of Tanya the EvilCarlo ZenEnterbrain142010–2012 (web novel)2013–present (light novel)9.5 millionDate A LiveKōshi TachibanaFujimi Shobo222011–20209 millionMy Happy MarriageAkumi AgitogiFujimi Shobo102019–present9 million (including manga adaptation)Aria the Scarlet AmmoChūgaku AkamatsuMedia Factory452008–present9 millionJirō AkagawaShueisha421981–present8.81 millionShakugan no ShanaYashichiro TakahashiASCII Media Works282002–20128.6 millionThe Case Files of Biblia BookstoreEn MinamiKadokawa122011–present8.5 millionWise Man's GrandchildTsuyoshi YoshiokaEnterbrain172015–2022 (web novel)2015–2022 (light novel)8.3 millionKino's JourneyKeiichi SigsawaASCII Media Works242000–present8.2 millionDeath March to the Parallel World RhapsodyHiro AinanaFujimi Shobo362013–present (web novel)2014–present (light novel)8 million (including manga adaptation)My Isekai LifeShinkoshotoSB Creative192017–2020 (web novel)2018–present (light novel)8 million (including manga adaptation)Saeko HimuroShueisha101984–1991 8 million I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince so I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical AbilityKenkyo na CircleKodansha112019–present (web novel)2020–present (light novel)8 million (including manga adaptation)From Old Country Bumpkin to Master SwordsmanShigeru SagazakiSquare Enix112020–present (web novel)2021–present (light novel)8 million (including manga adaptations)High School DxDIchiei IshibumiFujimi Shobo252008–20187.8 millionBaka and TestKenji InoueEnterbrain182007–20157.3 millionGateTakumi YanaiAlphaPolis102006–2009 (web novel)2010–2015 (light novel)7.2 million (including manga adaptation)Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd SkillRen EguchiOverlap172016–present (web novel)2016–present (light novel)7 millionHaganaiYomi HirasakaMedia Factory112009–20157 millionThe Strongest Sage with the Weakest CrestShinkoshotoSB Creative202016–2020 (web novel)2017–present (light novel)7 millionMirage of BlazeMizuna KuwabaraShueisha421990–20076.8 millionThe Familiar of ZeroNoboru YamaguchiMedia Factory222004–20176.8 millionIsekai Izakaya "Nobu"Natsuya SemikawaTakarajimasha72012–present (web novel)2014–present (light novel)6.7 million (including manga adaptation)The Eminence in ShadowDaisuke AizawaEnterbrain72018–present (web novel)2018–present (light novel)8 millionKyo Kara Maoh!Tomo TakabayashiKadokawa Shoten222000–present (on hiatus)6.5 millionThe Story of SaiunkokuSai YukinoKadokawa Shoten222003–20116.5 millionShōnen OnmyōjiMitsuru YūkiKadokawa Shoten472001–present6.2 million (including manga adaptation)Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's StrongestRyo ShirakomeOverlap132013–2015 (web novel)2015–present (web novel sequel)2013–2022 (light novel)6 millionMy Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!Satoru YamaguchiIchijinsha162014–2015 (web novel) 2015–present (light novel)6 millionNo Game No LifeYū KamiyaMedia Factory132012–present6 millionStudent Council's DiscretionAoi SekinaFujimi Shobo102008–20126 millionAccel WorldReki KawaharaASCII Media Works282009–present5.7 million Durarara!!Ryohgo NaritaASCII Media Works132004–20145.6 millionHarem in the Labyrinth of Another WorldShachi SoganoShufunotomo132011–2019 (web novel)2012–present (light novel)5.6 million (including manga adaptation)The Villainess Is Adored by the Prince of the Neighbor KingdomPuni-chanKadokawa Shoten152016–present (web novel) 2016–2026 (light novel)5.6 million Maria-sama ga MiteruOyuki KonnoShueisha371998–20125.4 millionOreimoTsukasa FushimiASCII Media Works162008–20215.2 millionThe Ideal Sponger LifeTsunehiko WatanabeShufunotomo222011–present (web novel)2012–present (light novel)5.2 millionAlya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in RussianSunSunSunKadokawa Shoten112021–present5 millionSpice and WolfIsuna HasekuraASCII Media Works242006–present5 millionToradora!Yuyuko TakemiyaASCII Media Works102006–20095 millionBoogiepopKouhei KadonoMediaWorks261998-present5 million
See also
List of best-selling comic series List of best-selling manga List of highest-grossing media franchises List of Japanese manga magazines by circulation List of The New York Times Manga Best Sellers
References