From 'Midnights' to that Christmas album, here's our ranking of every Taylor Swift album cover.
Whether you’re a fan, it’s impossible to deny Taylor Swift’s impact on music. With hundreds of songs and dozens of hits in her career, she is a master singer-songwriter (and was officially named Billboard’s Woman of the Decade in 2019).
But music isn’t just about music — it’s about the visual execution, too. And though the age-old saying “don’t judge a book by its cover” is generally true, an album’s cover can play a big role in making it memorable. For Swift, a handful of her biggest albums feature some of the most memorable art. When 1989 was released in 2014, for example, everyone from Swifties to casual listeners attempted their recreations of the iconic half-faceless Polaroid cover. And that album went on to win album of the year at the Grammys.
At the same time, not all hit covers are hit albums, and vice versa. So, Billboard decided to rank each of the pop star’s covers since her debut in 2006.
Now, let us be clear: this list is only taking album artwork into account. If you’re looking for how the albums stand against each other musically and lyrically, you’ve come to the wrong place. We’re simply looking at covers: filters, styling, framing and how the creative represents the album as a whole. And, yes, this list is completely subjective, so it’s ok to disagree. No hard feelings.
Including both her re-recorded Taylor’s Versions and original master recordings, as well as that oft-forgotten 2007 Christmas record, see how we rank each of the Swift’s album covers, from worst to best, below.
‘Taylor Swift’
Taylor Swift, 2006 — Swift had a real opportunity to introduce herself as the youthful and charismatic singer-songwriter she was for the cover of her self-titled debut album. But with an oversaturated background and dramatic makeup that ages the 16-year-old into her twenties, we’re fine to leave this one in 2006.
‘Fearless’
Fearless (2008) — Don’t get us wrong, Fearless’ cover had potential. We can see this concept as a Dolly Parton or Shania Twain comeback album, but for Swift’s sophom*ore breakthrough, the art feels too mature and retouched.
‘The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection’
The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection (2007) — The cover of a young Taylor’s Christmas album is nothing special, but it’s not the worst thing we’ve seen. The gemstones on her face are a nice touch to capture her youth, but that guitar hug is a little corny.
‘Evermore’
Evermore (2020) — We can appreciate the continuation of Folklore’s rustic theme for Swift’s second album of 2020. With her back towards the camera — this time facing the woods instead of in it — the Evermore cover just isn’t as memorable as its sister.
Taylor Swift, ‘Lover’
Lover (2019) — Pictured amidst cotton candy clouds, Swift is almost godlike as she looks at the world below on Lover’s cover. The album’s aesthetic is a pastel lover’s dream (with vibrant music videos to match), but the Photoshop job makes it feel more trendy than timeless.
‘Red (Taylor’s Version)’
Red (Taylor’s Version) (2021) — Swifties can agree that Red is a fall album, and Swift’s Taylor’s Version cover absolutely screams fall. Sitting reflective in an old-school convertible feels a lot like the album’s signature song, “All Too Well.” The warm filter and bold red lip are definitely callbacks to the original album’s cover, but we wish the comparisons were a bit more clear.
‘Speak Now’
Speak Now (2010) — On the cover of Speak Now, Swift twirls front and center in an elegant purple dress that defined that era. The focus is strictly on Swift and we wouldn’t have it any other way. After all, she did write the entire album by herself at just 19.
‘Midnights’
Midnights (2022) — Putting the tracklist on the cover was a bold move for Midnights. But everything from flickering lighter flame to the glittery eyeshadow to the intentional blurriness make the perfect visuals for the album Swift describes as “the stories of 13 sleepless nights scattered throughout my life.”
‘Red’
Red (2012) — The cover of Red may be simple, but a decade later, it remains one of Swift’s most memorable. Not only did it mark the beginning of her signature red lip, but its warm tones helped cement it an album that’s worth revisiting every fall for years to come.
‘Fearless (Taylor’s Version)’
Fearless (Taylor’s Version) (2021) — Swift took an OK cover and made it great for her version of Fearless, the first album she re-recorded to take full control of her music. Unlike Red (Taylor’s Version), the homages to the original art are clear. In contrast to the 2008 version, she looks forward instead of back — perhaps hinting at the many re-records to come.
‘Folklore’
Folklore (2020) — Her most indie album to date, Folklore didn’t need the elaborate visuals many of her former albums had. Standing reflective in a moody forest, Swift’s goal was simple: to invite us into the dreamworld we all longed to be in at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)’ (2023)
Taylor is no longer 19 and “too young to be messed with” on the cover of Speak Now (Taylor’s Version). Like Fearless (Taylor’s Version), the cover gets a fresh update for the re-recorded edition that celebrates the original. She still dons a flowy purple dress and sports the iconic blonde beach waves of her Nashville days — but instead of turning backwards, the pop star is looking ahead, trading her bright white backdrop for a sophisticated grey.
‘1989’
1989 (2014) — Simply put, the 1989 cover is iconic. Even half-headless, we can still make out the pop star thanks to that signature red lip. Also, did this era kickstart the 2010s Polaroid revival? Probably!
‘Reputation’
Reputation (2017) — The cover of Reputation works exactly as intended. After being the subject of much media scrutiny (and not to mention the hordes of snake emojis that flooded her Instagram comments), Swift is taking hold of her narrative. In repeatedly writing out her name in her own headlines, she completes her transformation from America’s sweetheart to… whatever the hell she wants to be.
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