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Use our free Google Review Calculator below to instantly find out how many 5-star Google reviews you need to reach your target rating — and learn how to actually get them.
We build brands that want to stand out and supercharge growth through a combination of design, copywriting, and marketing.
We work with startups, SMBs, and entrepreneurs in media, real estate, fintech, software, services, and more.
When someone searches for your business on Google, your star rating appears front and center — often before your website, hours, or phone number.
Your reviews don’t just influence reputation — they directly affect your visibility, traffic, and conversions.
- 93% of consumers say reviews influence their purchase decisions.
- 65% of people trust Google reviews more than any other platform.
- Businesses with 4.8+ star ratings get up to 25% more clicks from Google Maps and local search.
In other words: your Google rating is local SEO in disguise.
If your score dips below 4.5, you’re likely losing business to competitors with higher ratings — even if your services are better.
This calculator helps you figure out exactly how many 5-star reviews you need to reach your desired rating.
Here’s the math behind it (for the data-driven folks):
(current rating × current number of reviews) + (5 × new reviews)
—————————————————————————————————————————————— = desired rating
(current number of reviews + new reviews)
We rearrange this formula to solve for “new reviews.”
For example:
If you have 50 reviews with an average rating of 4.2, your total “score” is 210 (4.2 × 50).
To reach a 4.8 rating:
(210 + 5x) / (50 + x) = 4.8
Solve for x, and you’ll find you need around 117 new 5-star reviews.
It’s more than most people expect — which is why review velocity and consistency matter as much as quality.
Google uses reviews as part of its E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) framework.
Strong, authentic reviews help validate that your business delivers real value — and Google rewards that signal.
More positive reviews improve your Google Business Profile (GBP) visibility in Maps and the Local 3-Pack.
According to Moz’s Local Search Ranking Factors report, reviews make up ~17% of local pack ranking factors.
High ratings make users more likely to click.
When users see “4.9 ⭐ (228 reviews)” vs “4.2 ⭐ (17 reviews),” the choice is instant.
Reviews act as social proof — one of the strongest purchase motivators.
A higher rating signals trust and reliability, leading to higher call and form conversion rates.
Customer reviews naturally contain keywords (“great dentist in Cleveland,” “fast roof repair,” “best med spa”), which strengthens your relevance for local search queries.
While 5.0 stars seems like the goal, research tells a more nuanced story.
A study by Northwestern University found that consumer trust peaks between 4.2 and 4.7 stars.
Perfect ratings can sometimes look “too good to be true,” while a few authentic negative reviews make a business feel real and trustworthy.
Key takeaway:
Aim for consistent 4.5–4.9 stars with an ongoing flow of new 5-star reviews — not perfection.
The number varies by city and industry, but here’s a benchmark:
The key is to beat your local average.
If the top three competitors in your city average 4.7 stars with 100 reviews, your target is 4.8+ with 120+.
That’s where your review strategy — and this calculator — come in.
The biggest mistake most businesses make?
They rely on chance — hoping happy customers leave reviews on their own.
Instead, automate it:
Consistency is key. A steady trickle of reviews looks far more authentic than 30 reviews overnight.
Google explicitly states that businesses who reply to reviews are more likely to be trusted.
For positives:
“Thank you for your feedback, [Name]! We’re thrilled you enjoyed your experience — and appreciate you helping others find us.”
For negatives:
“We’re sorry to hear this, [Name]. Please reach out to us directly — we’d love the chance to make it right.”
Pro tip: responding within 48 hours shows both Google and potential customers that you’re engaged and trustworthy.
Reviews act as social proof — one of the strongest purchase motivators.
A higher rating signals trust and reliability, leading to higher call and form conversion rates.
Bad reviews aren’t the end — they’re an opportunity.
Here’s how to handle them strategically:
Even if they don’t, potential customers see your professionalism — and that often does more for your reputation than the review itself.
If a review violates Google’s guidelines (spam, personal attacks, off-topic content), you can report it.
Steps:
If it’s rejected and clearly violates terms, escalate through Google Business support or a trusted agency partner.
Make reviews part of your brand — not an afterthought.
Reviews don’t just improve perception — they fuel the entire local SEO flywheel:
Once you hit momentum, your growth becomes self-sustaining.
Your Google rating updates almost instantly when new reviews are posted.
However, the displayed average can lag slightly due to rounding (Google rounds to the nearest tenth).
For instance:
That rounding is why your number might not budge even after several new 5-star reviews — until the decimal crosses that threshold.
Use the calculator to predict exactly when that will happen.
Let’s say a local dentist in Cleveland has:
Plug it in:
You’ll need about 115 new 5-star reviews.
If you generate 10 per month, that’s a 1-year strategy to reach the goal — and it’s 100% achievable with automation and a review culture.
We help contractors, law firms, dental offices, and other local service companies generate steady, high-intent leads through organic search.
We grow online stores with SEO-optimized product pages, content clusters, and technical improvements that increase organic sales.
EXAMPLES
We help startups and software brands drive demo requests, trials, and user signups through full-funnel SEO and content strategies.
EXAMPLESHigher keyword rankings and organic traffic growth
More inbound leads and qualified conversions
Improved visibility in Google Maps and SERPs
Sustainable growth through AI-driven content and data
We're here to answer every question you might have.
Hiring a senior-level designer or marketer would cost upwards of $100,000 not including benefits. Our monthly fee is a fraction of this cost. Additionally, most companies don't have enough work to occupy 100% of an employee's time.
So, instead of paying a full-time salary to someone who will be used a portion of the time, why not hire a top-tier team dedicated to design and marketing when you need it.
Depending on the request, we aim to turn around design and copy work in a matter of days. You receive unlimited revisions - we will rework anything until you're happy - although, most of the time we get it right the first time.
When growing a company, you need to be nimble and move quickly. Our agile team is ready for your requests around the clock. You get high quality work fast. We remove the need to hire a freelancer each time you need something. This saves you time, and allows you to launch your ideas faster and focus on growing your business.
We've worked with companies across industries, but we tend to work well with startups, tech companies, small businesses, solopreneurs, small internet businesses, YouTube + TikTok creators, and more. Check out some of the work we've done recently.
We believe in flexibility (see our value prop.). So, we let you pause, cancel, or resume your subscription anytime you want.
We're here to answer every question you might have about our Google Review Calculator
Your rating is a simple average of all star ratings (1–5), rounded to the nearest tenth.
Because Google rounds to one decimal place. If your true average is 4.74, you’ll still show 4.7 until you hit 4.75.
Usually 10–20 new 5-star reviews, depending on your current rating and total review count. Use the calculator for exact numbers.
You can report reviews that violate Google’s content policy, but legitimate reviews (even negative ones) can’t be hidden or turned off.
Both. High volume builds authority; high average builds trust. The sweet spot is consistent growth with 4.7+ stars.
