Keyword density

How is keyword density calculated?

Divide the number of occurrences by the total word count and multiply by 100. A keyword that appears 10 times in a 500-word text has a density of 2 percent. For phrases of several words, tools count each occurrence of the full phrase and may weight it by phrase length. Results differ between tools, because they treat stop words, short words and numbers differently.

Is there an ideal keyword density?

Google’s documentation names no target value. Its spam policies describe repeating words or phrases until the text sounds unnatural as keyword stuffing. Several secondary sources report that Google has said keyword density is not a ranking factor, but this review found no primary Google source for that claim.

The ranges tools suggest, such as 0.5 to 3 percent in the Yoast plugin or 3 to 5 percent in many other tools according to intenSEO, differ from each other and do not come from Google. Wikipedia notes that search engines moved away from raw keyword counts and now handle synonyms and context. A density figure can serve as a check for odd repetition, not as a goal.

TF-IDF and similar methods compare a term’s frequency with other texts on the topic. Tools use them to suggest missing terms. Google has not confirmed using them for ranking.

Example

A 400-word text about running shoes uses the phrase “running shoes” five times, a density of 1.25 percent. More relevant is whether it explains cushioning, fit and intended use.

FAQ

What is keyword density? The share of a text taken up by one keyword or phrase.

Is keyword density a ranking factor? Google has published no target value, and no primary source in this review confirms it as a factor.

Last updated: October 7, 2026