How the calculation works
Your Google rating is an average of all your ratings. If you have N reviews averaging R stars and want to reach T stars, the number of new 5-star reviews x you need is:
x = N × (T − R) ÷ (5 − T)rounded up to the next whole review.
Example: 40 reviews at 4.2 stars, target 4.5: x = 40 × (4.5 − 4.2) ÷ (5 − 4.5) = 40 × 0.3 ÷ 0.5 = 24 new 5-star reviews.
Google displays the rating rounded to one decimal, so a business at 4.46 shows 4.5. Aim slightly above your target to stay there.
How many Google reviews do you need?
There's no magic number. What matters to customers is a believable rating and recent reviews. A few rules of thumb:
- More than your nearest competitors. Check the businesses that appear next to you on Google Maps.
- Recent reviews every week or month. A long gap makes customers wonder whether you're still open or still good.
- A realistic rating. A 4.6 with 200 reviews often looks more credible than a 5.0 with 8.
Why reaching a higher rating takes more reviews than you think
The closer your target is to 5.0, the more reviews it takes: going from 4.8 to 4.9 needs as many new 5-star reviews as you already have reviews. A single 1-star review also pulls a small-volume rating down a lot. The sooner you have a steady flow of reviews, the more stable your rating becomes.
How to get those reviews (without breaking Google's rules)
- Ask every customer, the same way, right after their visit. Not only the happy ones.
- Make it one tap: free Google review link generator and QR code generator.
- Send one short message: 21 review request templates.
- Reply to every review: how to respond to Google reviews.
Never buy reviews or offer rewards for them. Google removes them and can restrict your profile.
Want the reviews to come in automatically? Scan And Review sends review requests after every visit with QR codes and follow-up emails, and replies to every new review with AI. Start a free 14-day trial →
FAQ
How is my Google rating calculated?
It's the average of all star ratings on your Business Profile, shown rounded to one decimal place.
How many 5-star reviews does it take to cancel out a 1-star review?
It depends on how many reviews you have. With 10 reviews at 4.8, one new 1-star review drops you to about 4.5 (49 stars ÷ 11 reviews = 4.45); you'd need 9 new 5-star reviews to get back to 4.7. Use the calculator with your own numbers.
Does Google count every review in the rating?
The rating uses the ratings that are published on your profile. Reviews removed for policy violations don't count.