The number of anchor stores in a shopping center is the total number of stores of dominant size which serve as its anchor tenants. These are often department stores, but can also be extremely large clothing or housewares stores, big-box retailers, hypermarkets, or similarly major retail establishments that draw customers to the mall.

The anchor must have dominant size and draw customers as a destination within the shopping center. The count is not the total number of stores or the number of retail units of every size.

Department stores are one possible anchor type. A hypermarket or another exceptionally large destination retailer can supply the same anchor role without being a department store.