What is Average Position in Google?

Introduction

You know you’re ranking somewhere on Google. But are you on page 1 or page 3? Position 2 or position 9?

Average Position gives you that answer — and it often reveals that your rankings are quite different from what you assumed.

What is Average Position? (Definition)

Average Position is a metric in Google Search Console that shows the mean ranking position of your pages across all the search queries they appear for, over a selected time period.

If your page ranks at position 3 for one keyword and position 11 for another, your average position for that page across both queries is 7.

Average Position is reported at the site level, page level, and individual query level in Google Search Console. It gives you a numerical snapshot of where your content sits in Google’s rankings — and how that position changes over time.

One critical nuance: Average Position is a mean across multiple queries, which means it can be misleading if interpreted without context. A single page often ranks for dozens or hundreds of keyword variations at very different positions.

The Average Position Formula

Average Position = Sum of all ranking positions ÷ Total number of queries with impressions

Example: A page gets impressions for 3 queries:

Query 1: ranks at position 3
Query 2: ranks at position 8
Query 3: ranks at position 22

Average Position = (3 + 8 + 22) ÷ 3 = 11

This means the page shows as average position 11 in Search Console — but it’s actually on page 1 for its best keyword and nowhere near page 1 for others. This is why filtering by individual query always gives more useful data than reading the overall average.

Real Example of Average Position

A travel blog checks Google Search Console and sees their site’s overall average position is 14.2 — suggesting they’re mostly on page 2. But filtering by individual page tells a different story:

“Best beaches in Thailand” — average position: 4.1 (strong page 1 performer)
“Thailand travel guide” — average position: 22.6 (buried on page 2–3)
“Thailand visa requirements” — average position: 7.8 (lower page 1)

The overall average of 14.2 is dragged down by one underperforming article. The site owner focuses on improving “Thailand travel guide” — expanding the content, improving internal links, and earning one relevant backlink. Over 90 days, its average position improves to 11.4, and site-wide average position falls to 11.1, reflecting the meaningful improvement on that single high-opportunity page.

Why Average Position Matters in SEO

It’s Your Ranking Thermometer

Average Position gives you a quantified view of where you stand in Google’s results. Rising average position (lower number) means your content is being promoted. Falling average position (higher number) means something is pushing you down — algorithm updates, competitor improvements, or content decay.

It Identifies Quick-Win Opportunities

Pages or keywords sitting at average position 8–20 are the highest-priority optimisation targets. They’re already close to page 1 — a focused improvement in content quality, a few backlinks, or a better internal linking structure can push them onto page 1 and dramatically increase traffic.

It Tracks the Impact of SEO Work

Average Position is one of the clearest ways to measure whether your SEO efforts are working. If you update a piece of content and its average position improves from 14 to 6 over the following 6 weeks, the data confirms your optimisation is having the intended effect.

Common Average Position Mistakes

Mistake 1: Looking Only at Site-Level Average Position

Your overall site average position is interesting but rarely actionable. The valuable data is at the individual page and query level. A site average of 12 could mean everything sits at position 12, or that you have some pages at position 2 and many at position 30. Always filter down to the page and query level.

Mistake 2: Assuming Average Position Equals Traffic

A page at average position 3 generates far more traffic than a page at position 8, but this relationship is not linear. The CTR difference between position 1 (28%) and position 3 (11%) is enormous. Average position tells you where you rank, not how much traffic you’re getting. Always pair position data with click and impression data.

Mistake 3: Reacting to Day-to-Day Fluctuations

Rankings fluctuate daily — sometimes by multiple positions — due to Google’s continuous testing and updates. A single day where your average position drops 2 points is not meaningful. Analyse average position over 28-day or 90-day windows to identify genuine trends rather than noise.

Mistake 4: Ignoring Position Data for Individual Queries

The most valuable use of Average Position data is at the query level. Which specific keywords are you ranking at position 11–20 for? These are your best opportunities — close enough to page 1 to be worth targeting, but not yet delivering meaningful traffic. Build a list of these “position 2” keywords and systematically improve the content targeting them.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: How do I check my average position in Google?

Open Google Search Console and go to Performance → Search Results. The default view shows your overall average position. Click on individual pages in the Pages tab to see that page’s average position. Click on individual queries in the Queries tab to see your ranking for specific keywords. Filter by date range to compare performance over different periods.

Q2: What is a good average position in Google?

Any position on page 1 (positions 1–10) is good, with positions 1–3 being excellent. Position 1 generates approximately 28% CTR. Position 10 generates approximately 2%. Positions 11–20 (page 2) generate very little traffic. Your goal should be to get your most important pages above position 10, and ideally into positions 1–5 where traffic volumes are highest.

Q3: Why does my average position look good but I get very little traffic?

This usually means you’re ranking well for low-volume keywords. A page can have an average position of 4 but still generate minimal traffic if the keywords it ranks for receive very few monthly searches. Check the impression volume alongside your position — low impressions at a good position confirms a low-volume keyword issue, not a rankings problem.

Conclusion

Average Position is your ranking compass — it tells you where Google currently places your content and how that placement is changing over time. Use it to identify pages close to page 1 that deserve a push, track the results of your optimisation work, and monitor for ranking drops before they become traffic problems. Always read it at the page and query level, always pair it with impression and click data, and focus your energy on moving your best opportunities from page 2 to page 1.