These are the best rated "manga" on MAL by volume count, starting with 1 volume, then 2 volumes, then 3, and so on, all the way up to 50 volumes. "Manga" is in quotations because it actually includes anything - manga, manhwa, manhua, novels, light novels, one-shots, etc.
I also made two lists before covering the best manga by chapter count (from 1-50 and 51-100), and one covering the best anime by episode count (1-50) which you can check out here:
Top-Rated Manga by Chapter Count (1-50): https://myanimelist.net/stacks/31657
Top-Rated Manga by Chapter Count (51-100): https://myanimelist.net/stacks/80673
Top-Rated Anime by Episode Count (1-50): https://myanimelist.net/stacks/67458
Novel, 1 vol, 2013
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 1
Runner-up #1: Witch on the Holy Night (8.70)
Runner-up #2: I want to eat your pancreas (8.67)
Runner-up #3: Sayonara Eri (8.63)
Manhwa, ? vol, 2024
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 2
Runner-up #1: Violet Evergarden (8.65)
Runner-up #2: Kara no Kyoukai: The Garden of Sinners (8.56)
Runner-up #3: The Summer of You (8.50)
Manga, 3 vol, 2016
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 3
Runner-up #1: The Horizon (8.69)
Runner-up #2: Bloom into You: Regarding Saeki Sayaka (8.52)
Runner-up #3: your name. (8.40)
Novel, 4 vol, 2016
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 4
Runner-up #1: Bungou Stray Dogs: Beast (8.66)
Runner-up #2: Will you marry me again if you are reborn? (8.59)
Runner-up #3: Monogatari Series: Off Season (8.53)
Light Novel, 5 vol, 2014
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 5
Runner-up #1: Ping Pong (8.55)
Runner-up #2: WorldEnd: What do you do at the end of the world? Are you busy? Will you save us? (8.53)
Runner-up #3: Shimeji Simulation (8.53)
Novel, 6 vol, 2021
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 6
Runner-up #1: Monogatari Series: First Season (8.91)
Runner-up #2: Monogatari Series: Second Season (8.91)
Runner-up #3: Monogatari Series: Final Season (8.84)
Manga, 7 vol, 2013
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 7
Runner-up #1: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (8.81)
Runner-up #2: The Empty Box and Zeroth Maria (8.68)
Runner-up #3: Umineko no Naku Koro ni Chiru (8.55)
Manga, 8 vol, 2015
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 8
Runner-up #1: Pluto (8.62)
Runner-up #2: Umineko When They Cry (8.58)
Runner-up #3: Takemitsuzamurai (8.33)
Manga, 9 vol, 2012
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 9
Runner-up #1: Umineko When They Cry Episode 7: Requiem of the Golden Witch (8.67)
Runner-up #2: Kids on the Slope (8.49)
Runner-up #3: Given (8.48)
Manga, 10 vol, 1999
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 10
Runner-up #1: Legend of the Galactic Heroes (8.61)
Runner-up #2: Blue Giant (8.51)
Runner-up #3: The Breaker (8.38)
Manga, 11 vol, 2011
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 11
Runner-up #1: Journal with Witch (8.56)
Runner-up #2: Kiichi VS (8.38)
Runner-up #3: Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for Otaku (8.35)
Manga, 12 vol, 2003
Me:-
Author:8
Volume Count: 12
Runner-up #1: Aria (8.62)
Runner-up #2: Seasons of Blossom (8.59)
Runner-up #3: Innocent Rouge (8.41)
Manga, 13 vol, 2012
Me:-
Author:7
Volume Count: 13
Runner-up #1: Oyasumi Punpun (8.98)
Runner-up #2: The Boxer (8.49
Runner-up #3: Gambling Apocalypse Kaiji (8.45)
Manga, 14 vol, 2014
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 14
Runner-up #1: Classroom of the Elite (8.76)
Runner-up #2: Yokohama Shopping Log (8.65)
Runner-up #3: Neon Genesis Evangelion (8.58)
Light Novel, 15 vol, 2020
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 15
Runner-up #1: Rascal Does Not Dream (8.64)
Runner-up #2: ReLIFE (8.63)
Runner-up #3: Homunculus (8.34)
Manga, 16 vol, 2012
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 16
Runner-up #1: Kaiji Part 5: One Poker Arc (8.61)
Runner-up #2: Phoenix (8.56)
Runner-up #3: Spice & Wolf (8.46)
Manga, 17 vol, 2007
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 17
Runner-up #1: KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World (8.60)
Runner-up #2: Cross Game (8.47)
Runner-up #3: Horimiya (8.41)
Manga, 18 vol, 1994
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 18
Runner-up #1: Lord of Mysteries (9.16)
Runner-up #2: My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU (8.74)
Runner-up #3: JoJo's Bizarre Adventures Part 4: Diamond is Unbreakable (8.57)
Manga, 19 vol, 1985
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 19
Runner-up #1: Hinamatsuri (8.46)
Runner-up #2: xxxHOLiC (8.37)
Runner-up #3: Full Metal Panic! Sigma (8.32)
Novel, 20 vol, 2022
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 20
Runner-up #1: Ashita no Joe (8.94)
Runner-up #2: Billy Bat (8.58)
Runner-up #3: One Outs (8.53)
Manga, 21 vol, 2000
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 21
Runner-up #1: Assassination Classroom (8.24)
Runner-up #2: Genshiken (8.21)
Runner-up #3: Kare Kano: His and Her Circumstances (8.14)
Manga, 22 vol, 1999
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 22
Runner-up #1: The Fable (8.56)
Runner-up #2: Baccano! (8.52)
Runner-up #3: Bakemonogatari (8.48)
Manga, 23 vol, 2020
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 23
Runner-up #1: Dorohedoro (8.68)
Runner-up #2: A Certain Magical Index (8.64)
Runner-up #3: Fruits Basket (8.53)
Manga, 24 vol, 2004
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 24
Runner-up #1: Pandora Hearts (8.56)
Runner-up #2: Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin (8.52)
Runner-up #3: Doraemon Long Stories (8.32)
Manga, 25 vol, 1996
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 25
Runner-up #1: Kamisama Kiss (8.54)
Runner-up #2: Nodame Cantabile (8.40)
Runner-up #3: Black Jack (8.32)
Light Novel, 26 vol, 2014
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 26
Runner-up #1: The World God Only Knows (8.45)
Runner-up #2: Tomodachi Game (8.35)
Runner-up #3: Forest of Piano (8.34)
Manga, 27 vol, 2001
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 27
Runner-up #1: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 8: JoJolion (8.48)
Runner-up #2: Basara (8.41)
Runner-up #3: Noragami: Stray Dogs (8.35)
Manga, 28 vol, 2015
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 28
Runner-up #1: Lone Wolf & Cub (8.63)
Runner-up #2: Rurouni Kenshin (8.53)
Runner-up #3: Tsubasa: RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE (8.29)
Manga, 29 vol, 2005
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 29
Runner-up #1: Oresama Teacher (8.10)
Runner-up #2: Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere (8.10)
Runner-up #3: Id (7.97)
Manga, 30 vol, 1993
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 30
Runner-up #1: Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You (8.30)
Runner-up #2: Jujutsu Kaisen (8.19)
Runner-up #3: Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei (8.15)
Manga, 31 vol, 1990
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 31
Runner-up #1: Golden Kamuy (8.64)
Runner-up #2: Gakuen Alice (8.32)
Runner-up #3: GTO: The Early Days (8.24)
Manga, 32 vol, 2007
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 32
Runner-up #1: Capeta (8.19)
Runner-up #2: The Irregular at Magic High School (8.16)
Runner-up #3: Love in the Mask (7.77)
Light Novel, 33 vol, 2015
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 33
Runner-up #1: Zatch Bell (8.36)
Runner-up #2: Worst (8.05)
Runner-up #3: Ushio and Tora (7.87)
Manga, 34 vol, 2000
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 34
Runner-up #1: Ace of Diamond Act II (8.57)
Runner-up #2: Attack on Titan (8.56)
Runner-up #3: H2 (8.21)
Manga, 35 vol, 2001
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 35
Runner-up #1: City Hunter (8.13)
Runner-up #2: Kekkaishi (7.99)
Runner-up #3: Rave Master (7.84)
Manga, 36 vol, 1991
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 36
Runner-up #1: The Wallflower: Yamatonadeshiko Shichihenge (7.96)
Runner-up #2: Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma (7.89)
Runner-up #3: Souten Kouro (7.20)
Manga, 37 vol, 1998
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 37
Runner-up #1: Eyeshield 21 (8.46)
Runner-up #2: Magi (8.27)
Runner-up #3: Hanma Baki (8.11)
Manga, 38 vol, 1988
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 38
Runner-up #1: Ranma ½ (8.00)
Runner-up #2: Magical Teacher Negima! (7.91)
Runner-up #3: Jail Time Ricky (7.76)
Manga, 39 vol, 1991
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 39
Runner-up #1: From Eroica with Love (7.66)
Runner-up #2: GetBackers (7.64)
Runner-up #3: Tough (7.57)
Manga, 40 vol, 2015
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 40
Runner-up #1: 3x3 Eyes (7.48)
Runner-up #2: Mirage of Blaze (7.42)
Runner-up #3: Angel Voice (7.29)
Manhwa, 41 vol, 2000
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 41
Runner-up #1: Bungo (7.54)
Runner-up #2: Seven Deadly Sins (7.42)
Runner-up #3: Legendary Gambler Tetsuya (7.16)
Manga, 42 vol, 1984
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 42
Runner-up #1: Katekyou Hitman Reborn! (8.10)
Runner-up #2: My Hero Academia (7.94)
Runner-up #3: Good-For-Nothing Blues (7.76)
Manga, 43 vol, 1997
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 43
Runner-up #1: Clover (7.98)
Runner-up #2: Toriko (7.64)
Runner-up #3: Zipang (7.60)
Manga, 44 vol, 2004
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 44
Runner-up #1: Pastel (7.49)
Runner-up #2: Last Inning (7.42)
Runner-up #3: Super Doctor K (7.36)
Manga, 45 vol, 2012
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 45
Runner-up #1: Doraemon (8.45)
Runner-up #2: The Wind Shines (7.84)
Runner-up #3: CMB (7.72)
Manga, 46 vol, 1985
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 46
Runner-up #1: Yshijima the Loan Shark (7.48)
Runner-up #2: N/A
Runner-up #3: N/A
Manga, 47 vol, 2006
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 47
Runner-up #1: Baby Steps (8.12)
Runner-up #2: Chameleon (6.83)
Runner-up #3: N/A
Manga, 48 vol, 2009
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 48
Runner-up #1: Initial D (8.26)
Runner-up #2: Azumi (7.75)
Runner-up #3: Aa! Megami-sama! (7.60)
Manga, 49 vol, 2006
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 49
Runner-up #1: Glass Mask (8.46)
Runner-up #2: Be Blues! Ao ni Nare (8.11)
Runner-up #3: Addicted to Curry (7.41)
Manga, 50 vol, 2007
Me:-
Author:-
Volume Count: 50
Runner-up #1: Crayon Shin-chan (7.95)
Runner-up #2: Q.E.D.: Shoumei Shuuryou (7.83)
Runner-up #3: Karate Shoukoushi Kohinata Minoru (7.49)
