What Are Journal Quartiles?
Journal quartiles (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4) are a way of ranking academic journals within a specific subject category based on their citation impact. Published by SCImago Journal & Country Rank (SJR) using Scopus data, quartiles divide journals into four equal groups:
- Q1 — top 25% of journals in a subject category (highest prestige)
- Q2 — journals ranked 26–50%
- Q3 — journals ranked 51–75%
- Q4 — bottom 25%
A journal can be Q1 in one subject category and Q2 in another, depending on how it performs relative to peers in each field. Always check the quartile for your specific research area, not just the overall ranking.
Why Q1 and Q2 Journals Matter
Many universities, funding bodies, and tenure committees explicitly require researchers to publish in Q1 or Q2 Scopus-indexed journals. In regions like the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America, quartile rankings are often a hard requirement for academic promotion and research grants.
Even where not mandatory, publishing in Q1/Q2 journals signals research quality and improves visibility, citation potential, and your personal h-index.
Step-by-Step: How to Find Q1/Q2 Journals Using SCImago
- Go to scimagojr.com
- Click Journal Rankings in the top navigation
- Select your Subject Area (e.g. Medicine, Engineering)
- Narrow by Subject Category (e.g. "Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine")
- Use the Quartile filter to show only Q1 or Q2 journals
- Sort by SJR score or H-index to find the most impactful options
You can also search by journal title or ISSN to check a specific journal's quartile status.
How to Find Q1/Q2 Journals Using Scopus
- Visit the Scopus Sources page (free access)
- Search by title, ISSN, or subject area
- Download the source list as an Excel file for offline filtering
- Cross-reference with SJR quartile data from SCImago
Tip: A journal being "Scopus indexed" does not automatically make it Q1 or Q2. Always verify the quartile separately on SCImago.
Using JournalsHub to Find Q1/Q2 Journals
JournalsHub pulls together impact factors, SJR scores, CiteScore, acceptance rates, APC fees, and open access status in one place. You can sort journals by SJR score to surface the highest-quartile options quickly, or filter by subject area to find the best-ranked journals in your field.
Web of Science Indexed Journals vs. Scopus Indexed Journals
The quartile system described above uses Scopus/SJR data. The Web of Science (WoS) has its own ranking system through the Journal Citation Reports (JCR), which assigns journals a JCR quartile (Q1–Q4) based on their Impact Factor within a category. Both systems are respected, but:
- Scopus/SJR covers ~25,000+ journals — broader coverage
- WoS/JCR covers ~21,000+ journals — considered the gold standard for Impact Factor
- Many top journals are indexed in both
DOAJ: Finding Quality Open Access Q1/Q2 Journals
The Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) lists vetted, legitimate open access journals. Many DOAJ-listed journals are also Scopus or WoS indexed. It is a useful filter to confirm a journal is not predatory, especially for open access publishing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Q1 journal always better than a Q2?
In terms of prestige within a category, yes — Q1 is the top 25%. But Q2 journals are still highly respected and may have faster turnaround times, higher acceptance rates, and lower APC fees. Q2 can be the smarter strategic choice for many papers.
Can a journal have no quartile?
Yes. Journals not indexed in Scopus do not receive an SJR quartile. This includes many newer journals, highly regional publications, and some humanities journals. They may still have an Impact Factor if indexed in Web of Science.
How often are quartile rankings updated?
SCImago updates quartile data annually, typically in the first quarter of the year based on prior-year citation data. Always check the year of the quartile when comparing journals.
Conclusion
Finding Q1 and Q2 journals in your field is straightforward using SCImago, Scopus Sources, or JournalsHub. Always verify the quartile in your specific subject category, check that the journal is currently indexed (not delisted), and weigh quartile against other factors like APC cost, acceptance rate, and publication speed. Use JournalsHub's journal search to compare all these metrics side by side.