"Kill 'Em All" was released on July 25, 1983 by Megaforce with an initial pressing of 15,000 copies. Because of the label's financial restrictions, the album was pressed in batches of 500 copies. "Kill 'Em All" had sold 17,000 copies in the US by the end of the year. Similarly to punk rock acts, Metallica promoted its material through the tape trading network and independent music magazines such as "Metal Forces" in the UK and "Metal Mania" in the US. The album did not enter the "Billboard" 200 chart until 1986, when it peaked at number 155 following Metallica's commercial success with its third studio album "Master of Puppets". The 1988 re-issue on Elektra Records also charted on the "Billboard" 200, peaking at number 120. It was certified 3× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 1999 for shipping three million copies in the United States. Despite being the lowest selling Metallica studio album, it helped the band establish its image and build a fanbase in its inaugural years.