Yes, effectively all of them, but almost always with co-writers. Ed Sheeran holds a writing credit on nearly every track he records, one of the highest authorship rates of any stadium-level pop star. Only a small number, like 'Perfect,' are written entirely on his own; most, from 'Shape of You' to 'Bad Habits,' are co-written with a tight circle such as Johnny McDaid, Steve Mac, and Amy Wadge.
By the Numbers
8
Studio Albums
110
Tracks Credited
100%
Self-Written
200M+
Records Sold
22
Years Active
141
Collaborators
Authorship Breakdown 110 / 110 self-written
Who wrote the songs?
Across all 110 tracks: how many Ed Sheeran wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.
Ed Sheeran has a writing credit100%
6%
94%
Sole author7tracks6%
Co-written103tracks94%
Outside writers0tracks0%
Role Fingerprint how they contribute
Ed Sheeran's roles across the catalogue
Share of all 110 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.
Lyricist (words)100%
Composer (music)100%
Producer34%
Performer100%
Authorship Over Time writing credit per album
Ed Sheeran's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.
avg 100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
2011+ (Plus)
2014× (Multiply)
2017÷ (Divide)
2019No.6 Collaborations Project
2021= (Equals)
2023- (Subtract)
2023Autumn Variations
2025Play
Early · 100% written
Mid · 100% written
Late · 100% written
Authorship by Decade track-weighted
100%
2010s
+ (Plus), × (Multiply) +2 more
100%
2020s
= (Equals), - (Subtract) +2 more
Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author
Where Ed Sheeran sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.
Ed Sheeran
Other artists on the site
Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.
Bubble size = tracks worked on together. FG Fred Gibson
The Authorship Story
Data Insight
Ed Sheeran is credited as a writer on effectively every song he records, one of the highest authorship rates of any stadium-level pop star. But the numbers show he is a co-writer, not a lone one: only a small fraction of his tracks, like 'Perfect,' are written entirely by himself. Almost everything else is built with a tight circle of collaborators, above all Johnny McDaid, Steve Mac, Amy Wadge, and Fred again.. He also writes hits for other artists, such as 'Love Yourself' for Justin Bieber, which do not appear in his own catalog here.
Quick Facts
GrammysWon Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance for 'Thinking Out Loud' (2016)
Shape of YouBroke Spotify's day-one streaming record and was the best-selling single of 2017 worldwide
Songwriter for hireWrote 'Love Yourself' for Justin Bieber and songs for other artists
Co-writing circleRegularly writes with Johnny McDaid, Steve Mac, Amy Wadge, and Fred again..
StyleAcoustic pop built on loop-pedal live performances, blending folk, R&B, and hip-hop
Creative Fingerprint
Present on everything, solo on almost nothing: Ed Sheeran holds a writing credit on effectively every song he records, but he is a co-writer, building nearly all of it with a tight circle like Johnny McDaid and Steve Mac rather than writing alone.
The Story
Ed Sheeran is a British singer-songwriter who rose to global fame with his debut album '+' in 2011, building a career on intimate acoustic pop anchored by loop-pedal performances and confessional lyricism. Known for effortlessly blending pop, folk, R&B, and hip-hop influences, he has become one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with multiple record-breaking singles and stadium tours. His ability to write across genres, from heartfelt ballads to dancehall-inflected pop, has made him one of the most commercially successful and critically recognized artists of his generation.
Awards & Recognition
'Thinking Out Loud' won the Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance (2016)
Over 200 million records sold worldwide, one of the best-selling music artists of all time
'Shape of You' broke Spotify's day-one streaming record and was the best-selling single of 2017 in both the UK and US
As a songwriter, co-wrote 'Love Yourself,' a US number-one hit for Justin Bieber (2015)
Frequently Asked Questions Ed Sheeran
Did Ed Sheeran write his own songs?
Yes, effectively all of them, but almost always with co-writers. Ed Sheeran holds a writing credit on nearly every track he records, one of the highest authorship rates of any stadium-level pop star. Only a small number, like 'Perfect,' are written entirely on his own; most, from 'Shape of You' to 'Bad Habits,' are co-written with a tight circle such as Johnny McDaid, Steve Mac, and Amy Wadge.
Who wrote 'Shape of You'?
'Shape of You' (2017) was co-written by Ed Sheeran with Steve Mac and Johnny McDaid. The writers of TLC's 'No Scrubs' were later added to the credits over a melodic similarity, which is why more names appear on the song.
Who wrote 'Perfect'?
'Perfect' (2017) is one of the few songs Ed Sheeran wrote entirely by himself, with no co-writers. He has said he wrote it about his wife, Cherry Seaborn.
Who wrote 'Thinking Out Loud'?
'Thinking Out Loud' (2014) was co-written by Ed Sheeran and Amy Wadge. It won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 2016.
Does Ed Sheeran write songs for other artists?
Yes. He co-wrote 'Love Yourself,' a US number-one for Justin Bieber (2015), and has written for other artists too. Those songs are not part of his own studio catalogue.
How many albums has Ed Sheeran released?
This catalogue covers 8 of his releases, from + (Plus) in 2011 across his symbol-titled album series to Play.
How many records has Ed Sheeran sold?
Over 200 million worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
Who are Ed Sheeran's main co-writers?
A small, consistent group: Johnny McDaid of Snow Patrol, producer Steve Mac, Amy Wadge, Benny Blanco, and Fred again.. appear across many of his biggest hits. He rarely writes with people outside this circle.
Did Ed Sheeran win a Grammy?
Yes. Among his wins, 'Thinking Out Loud' took Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance at the 2016 Grammys.
What is Ed Sheeran known for musically?
Acoustic, confessional pop that he often performs live using a loop pedal, layering one guitar into a full arrangement. His songs move between folk balladry, pop, R&B, and hip-hop.
Ed Sheeran
