The average rating is the number shown next to the stars on a Google profile, for example “4.6”. It sums up all the 1 to 5 star ratings customers have left. It appears with the total number of reviews, which matters just as much: 4.8 from 6 reviews is less reassuring than 4.6 from 300.
How it is calculated
The principle is an average: add up the stars and divide by the number of reviews. Google rounds to one decimal for display and may leave some reviews out (for example reviews removed for breaking its policies).
Worked example: a business has 40 reviews averaging 4.0, so 160 stars in total. To reach 4.5 it needs 5-star reviews: with 40 more 5-star reviews it gets (160 + 200) ÷ 80 = 4.5. The more reviews a business has, the more slowly its rating moves, both up and down.
Why it matters
The rating is one of the first things people look at in local results to choose between businesses. It also feeds prominence, one of the local ranking factors Google describes.
Common mistakes
- aiming for 5.0: a perfect score with few reviews can look less credible than a very good score with many;
- losing heart after one negative review: with enough reviews, one weighs little;
- trying to lift the rating with fake reviews: forbidden and risky.
To find out how many reviews you need, use the Google review calculator.
Go further
Related terms
Google review
A Google review is the rating a customer leaves on a business’s profile: 1 to 5 stars, often a comment and sometimes photos, visible to everyone in Google Search and Google Maps.
Google Local Pack
The Local Pack is the block of Google results that shows a map and a few businesses (often three) for a search with a nearby intent, such as “bakery near me”.
Review response rate
The review response rate is the share of customer reviews a business has replied to over a given period: reviews with a reply divided by total reviews received.