Average position is a metric in the Google Search Console performance report. It shows where a site or page appeared in search results on average, with 1 as the top spot.
How is it calculated?
Google defines it as the topmost position that a link to the property or page held in the results, averaged across all queries. If several of a site’s results appear for the same query, only the highest one counts. Some third-party sources describe the value as an average weighted by impressions instead.
Google’s own example, restated: for query A the site appears at positions 2, 4 and 6, so 2 counts. For query B it appears at 3, 5 and 9, so 3 counts. The average position is (2 + 3) / 2 = 2.5.
How to read it
Google warns the value can mislead without understanding some details. A position of 11, for instance, may be the top item of a knowledge panel, the first result on the second page or a row in image search, depending on screen width. If users never see a result, no position is recorded for it, and a dash can appear when no data exists for a filter.
Because the figure mixes all queries, adding new pages that rank low for many extra queries can lower the average while existing rankings stay the same (assessment). Filtering by query, page, country or device gives a more useful number.
FAQ
Is average position the same as a rank tracker position? No. A rank tracker checks a fixed query under set conditions. Search Console averages actual impressions.
Sources
- Performance report (Search): metrics – Search Console Helpsupport.google.com
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