How do you check your Google rankings?
To check your Google rankings, open the Performance report in Google Search Console, select Average position, then click the Queries tab to see where you rank for each search. For Google Maps, check Searches in your Business Profile performance and test from several spots in your service area. One search on your own phone is not a reliable check.
Most owners check rankings by typing their main service into Google on their own phone. That is the least accurate method there is. This guide shows you how to check Google ranking of keywords using data Google itself provides, and how to read it without fooling yourself.
Why does my ranking look different on my phone?
Your ranking looks different on your phone because Google tailors results to each searcher. Search Console's help pages say results are specific to the time, place, device and recent history of the person searching. Google's position definitions add that your position can differ from the average because of variables such as search history and location.
Local results add another layer. Google says map results depend partly on distance, meaning how far the business is from the person searching. So a roofer in Plano who searches "roofer near me" from the shop will almost always look better than they do to a homeowner in Frisco. Neither result is wrong. Each one is a single sample.
That is why the methods below use averages and multiple locations.
Which ways of checking your Google rankings are reliable?
Each method answers a different question. The table shows what each one is good for.
| Method | What it shows | Best for | Main limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Search Console Performance report | Average position, clicks and impressions for each search | Your website in the regular results | Averages hide day-to-day swings |
| Business Profile performance | Search terms used to find your profile, views, calls, direction requests | How people find you on Search and Maps | Shows search terms, not your exact map position |
| Grid rank checks from many locations | Your map pack position from many points across a service area | Seeing where in town you rank well or poorly | Usually needs a third-party tool |
| Manual search in a private window | What one person in one place sees right now | A quick sanity check | One sample from one location |
Method 1: Check rankings in Google Search Console
Google Search Console is free, and it reports data from Google's own systems. You need the site added and verified first.
- Open Search Console and pick your website from the property list.
- Click Performance in the left menu. If you see sub-options, choose Search results.
- Turn on Average position. Above the chart are boxes for total clicks, total impressions, average CTR and average position. Click Average position so it shows in the chart and table.
- Set the date range. The default is the past three months, which is a good starting view. Compare it with the previous period to spot trends.
- Click the Queries tab under the chart. You now see each search that showed your site, with its clicks, impressions and average position.
- Click the Pages tab to see the same numbers for each page, such as your water heater page or your emergency service page.
A few notes on reading it. Google calculates position from the topmost link to your site for each search, then averages it across all impressions. Lower is better, so an average position of 3 beats 12. And Google notes the newest data can be preliminary for a few hours.
Method 2: Check your Business Profile performance
Your Google Business Profile has its own performance report, and it is the best free view of how people find you on Search and Maps. Performance data is only available for verified profiles.
- Sign in to the Google Account that manages your profile.
- Open your Business Profile. Google suggests searching for your business name and city, or for "my business."
- Click Performance.
- Choose a time period at the top and apply it.
- Look at Searches to see the search terms people used to find your business. Google updates this at the start of each month, and it can take up to 5 days to appear.
- Check calls, website clicks and direction requests. These show what people did after they found you.
For example, a dental office might see "dentist near me," "emergency dentist" and its own name in the search terms. If "emergency dentist" is missing, that tells the owner something to work on.
Method 3: Check your map pack rankings across your service area
Map pack rankings change block by block, so one search cannot tell you much. A grid check runs the same search from many points on a map, such as every mile across your service area, and records where you appear at each point. The result looks like a heat map: strong near your location, weaker farther out.
Third-party rank tracking tools do this, and agencies use them to report local rankings. It is also part of our Free Missed-Lead Audit, which checks your Google Maps rankings across your service area along with your reviews and after-hours response.
If you want to do a rough version yourself, open a private browser window and search with the town name included, such as "plumber Chandler AZ," for each town you serve. Write the results down monthly. It is not precise, but it is far better than one search from your shop.
Which keywords should you track?
Track the searches that bring calls, not the ones that look impressive. A short list of 10 to 20 searches is plenty for most local businesses.
- Your main services plus "near me," such as "AC repair near me."
- Your main services plus each town you serve, such as "AC repair Mesa."
- Urgent searches, such as "emergency plumber" or "24 hour locksmith."
- Your business name. You should always rank first for it. If not, something is wrong.
Not sure which searches matter? Our guide on what keywords are in SEO shows how to find the words customers use, and how to rank higher on Google Maps covers what to do when the map numbers are weak.
Rankings are a means, not the goal
Rankings matter only if they turn into calls and booked jobs. A business can rank first for a search nobody makes, or rank well and still miss half its calls. When you review rankings each month, put them next to your call count and new reviews. A good monthly report does exactly that, as we explain in what an SEO report should include.
Get a free ranking check
If you want someone to do the checking for you, request the Free Missed-Lead Audit. We map your Google Maps rankings across your service area, check whether AI answers mention you, and send a recorded walkthrough within 2 business days. For ongoing tracking, that same reporting is part of our local SEO service.