Free Google Review Calculator
See exactly how many 5-star reviews you need to reach your target rating.
Enter your current rating or look up your business directly from Google. Compare realistic scenarios and plan your path to better reviews.
Calculate NowWhat this calculator tells you
How Google Calculates Your Star Rating
Google uses a simple weighted average. Understanding the math helps you set realistic goals.
Simple Average
Each review counts equally. A 1-star hurts as much as a 5-star helps.
Volume Matters
With fewer reviews, each new review has bigger impact on your rating.
Recency Factor
Google and consumers both weight recent reviews more heavily.
Example: Recovery from a Bad Review
Scenario: You have 50 reviews at 4.5 stars and just received a 1-star review.
Current total: 50 x 4.5 = 225 star points
After 1-star: (225 + 1) / 51 = 4.43 stars
To get back to 4.5 stars:
4 more 5-star reviews
(225 + 1 + 20) / 55 = 4.47 stars (rounds to 4.5)
Why Your Google Rating Matters for Local SEO
Your star rating directly impacts whether customers find and choose your business.
of local pack ranking factors come from reviews
average reviews for businesses in local pack results
of consumers only trust reviews from last 30 days
revenue increase per 1-star rating improvement
What Rating Should You Target?
Research shows there's a sweet spot for consumer trust. Higher isn't always better.
Good. Customers trust you're real, but there's room to improve.
Optimal. High trust without seeming fake. Peak conversion rates.
Paradoxically can seem suspicious. Perfect scores raise doubts.
How to Get More Google Reviews
Knowing your target is step one. Here's how to actually get there.
Ask at the Right Moment
Request reviews immediately after a positive interaction. Happy customers are most likely to respond within the first hour.
Make It Easy
Send a direct link to your Google review page. QR codes work great for in-person businesses. Fewer clicks = more reviews.
Create a free QR codeRespond to Every Review
91% of consumers check if businesses respond. Quick, thoughtful responses encourage others to leave reviews too.
Consistency Over Volume
5 reviews per month beats 50 reviews once a year. Google values recency, and customers trust fresh reviews.
Need help responding to all your reviews? Let AI do the heavy lifting.
Try our free AI review response generatorFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Google ratings and review calculations.
How does Google calculate star ratings?
Google calculates your star rating as a simple average of all review ratings. If you have 10 reviews with ratings of 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 2, and 1, your total is 36, divided by 10 reviews, giving you a 3.6-star rating. The rating updates as new reviews come in.
How many 5-star reviews to counteract a 1-star?
It depends on your current rating and total reviews. Generally, 10-20 five-star reviews can offset one 1-star review. With fewer total reviews, each new review has more impact. Use our calculator to see the exact number for your situation.
What is a good Google review score?
Research shows that 4.5 to 4.7 stars is the sweet spot for consumer trust. Interestingly, a perfect 5.0 rating can seem suspicious to consumers. Most businesses should aim for 4.5 stars as an optimal target that builds trust without appearing too perfect.
How many Google reviews do I need to rank?
Studies show businesses in the local pack average around 47 reviews. However, review quantity is just one factor. Review recency, response rate, and keywords in reviews also impact local SEO rankings. Focus on consistently earning new reviews rather than a specific number.
Does responding to reviews help SEO?
Yes. Google has confirmed that responding to reviews is a factor in local search rankings. Businesses that respond to reviews show engagement, which signals legitimacy to Google. Plus, 91% of consumers check if businesses respond to reviews before visiting.
How recent do Google reviews need to be?
73% of consumers only consider reviews from the last 30 days as relevant. Google also weights recent reviews more heavily in local rankings. This means a steady flow of new reviews matters more than a large volume of old ones.
Can I remove negative Google reviews?
You can only remove reviews that violate Google policies (spam, fake, offensive content, conflicts of interest). Flag the review through Google Business Profile. If it does not violate policies, focus on responding professionally and earning more positive reviews to offset it.
How often should I check my reviews?
Active businesses should check reviews at least weekly, ideally daily. Responding within 24 hours shows customers you value their feedback. Consider using a monitoring tool like ReplyOnTheFly to get instant email alerts for new reviews.
What rating do most customers trust?
Studies show 4.5 to 4.7 stars is the sweet spot for consumer trust. Ratings in this range convert well, while perfect 5.0 ratings can appear fake. Businesses with ratings below 4.0 may lose up to 70% of potential customers.
How long does it take to improve Google rating?
It depends on your current review volume and how many new reviews you can earn. If you have 50 reviews at 4.0 stars, you would need about 17 new 5-star reviews to reach 4.3 stars. At 5 reviews per month, that is roughly 3-4 months.
Ready to Improve Your Rating?
ReplyOnTheFly monitors your Google reviews 24/7 and emails you AI-written responses ready to approve. Reply faster, get more reviews, and watch your rating climb.
Free forever plan available. No credit card required.