How many Google reviews do you need? A simple way to work out your number
Aim for at least 20 Google reviews, a rating of 4.5 or higher, and new reviews every month, then match or beat the top three businesses in your local map results. In BrightLocal's 2026 survey, 47% of US consumers said they wouldn't use a business with fewer than 20 reviews. Here's how to work out the right number for you.
Why there's no single number
Google doesn't publish a review target, and the number customers expect depends on who you're up against. A plumber in a small town with competitors on 15 reviews is in a very different position from a dentist in a city where the top clinics have 600.
What we do know: a high Google rating and the number of Google reviews with text both rank among the top ten map ranking factors in Whitespark's expert survey, and customers weigh how recent reviews are as much as how many there are. So your target has three parts: a count, a rating and a monthly pace.
of US consumers won't use a business with fewer than 20 reviews.
will only use a business rated four stars or more; 31% want 4.5 or more.
only consider reviews written in the last three months.
map ranking factors: a high Google rating, and the number of Google reviews with text.
Work out your number in four steps
- Search for your main service the way a customer would, such as “emergency plumber” or “dentist near me”, on your phone from a couple of places in your area.
- Note the top three businesses in the map results: their review count, star rating and how many reviews they got in the last month (sort their reviews by newest).
- Set your targets: at least the middle of the three for total reviews, a rating of 4.5 or more, and a monthly pace that matches the busiest of the three.
- Turn it into a weekly habit. If you need 12 reviews a month and get about 4 in every 10 customers you ask to leave one, you need to ask around 30 customers a month, or 7 a week.
Top three for “dog groomer near me”: 84 reviews (4.8), 61 reviews (4.6), 32 reviews (4.9). Newest-review check: about 6, 4 and 3 new reviews last month. You: 22 reviews, 4.5. Targets: 61+ reviews, keep 4.5+, and 6 new reviews a month. At 6 a month you pass 61 reviews in about 7 months.
Why reviews every month matter more than a big total
A large pile of old reviews doesn't reassure customers who only read the latest ones, and it doesn't seem to hold rankings either. In Sterling Sky's 2025 study of 8,186 businesses ranking for “near me” searches, the number of reviews gained that month mattered more than the total, and reviews with text counted for more than star-only ratings.
They also saw a dental practice getting 60+ reviews a month drop sharply in rankings after it stopped for 18 days, while competitors getting 15 to 45 a month held steady. One example isn't a rule, but the pattern is consistent: steady beats bursts.
of US consumers look for reviews from the last two weeks, up from 20% in 2025.
without new reviews was enough for one high-volume dental client's rankings to fall sharply.
How many 5-star reviews it takes to raise your rating
Google shows your average rating rounded to one decimal place, so 4.45 shows as 4.5. The more reviews you already have, the more new 5-star reviews it takes to move the number. These figures assume your current average is exactly the rating shown:
| You have now | To show 4.5 | To show 4.7 | To show 4.8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 reviews at 4.0 | 21 | 47 | 75 |
| 40 reviews at 3.8 | 48 | 98 | 152 |
| 50 reviews at 4.2 | 23 | 65 | 110 |
| 100 reviews at 4.3 | 28 | 100 | 180 |
| 200 reviews at 4.4 | 19 | 143 | 280 |
Because your shown rating is rounded, your real average could be a little higher or lower. Enter your exact star breakdown in our free Google rating calculator to get your own numbers.
Common mistakes
- Asking everyone at once, then stopping. You get a spike, then months of silence that customers and rankings both notice.
- Only asking happy customers. Google's policies don't allow it, and every customer should get the chance to review.
- Offering discounts or prizes for reviews. Google doesn't allow incentives, and US and UK law restricts them.
- Chasing a perfect 5.0. A few honest lower ratings make a high average more believable, and a steady 4.5 to 4.9 is a better goal.
- Collecting reviews and ignoring them. 89% of consumers expect owners to reply, so answer every one.
Sources
- BrightLocal Local Consumer Review Survey 2026 (1,002 US consumers)
- Whitespark Local Search Ranking Factors (47 experts, 187 factors)
- Sterling Sky: We analyzed 8,186 businesses in 200 cities (2025)
Citing these figures? Please link to this page. If you spot a figure that's out of date, email hello@flexilocal.com.
