How Many Reviews Do You Need to Appear in the Local 3-Pack?
- Jan 6
- 1 min read
One of the most common questions small businesses ask is simple: How many reviews do I need to appear in the Local 3-Pack?
There isn’t a universal number. The Local 3-Pack is influenced by relevance, distance, and prominence. Reviews fall under prominence, and while they matter, they are only one piece of the ranking picture.
The Local 3-Pack Is Relative to Your Market
The number of reviews needed depends heavily on your industry and location.
For example:
In a small town, businesses may appear in the Local 3-Pack with 15–25 reviews.
In a competitive metro area, leading listings may have 150–500+ reviews.
Google compares businesses against each other within the same search area. You are not competing nationally, you are competing locally.
Review Quality Matters in the Local 3-Pack
It is not just about volume. Google evaluates:
Overall rating
Review recency
Review consistency
Engagement through responses
A business with 60 steady, recent reviews may outperform one with 200 outdated reviews.
Momentum Supports Local 3-Pack Stability
Consistent review activity signals that a business is actively serving customers.
Profiles that receive reviews regularly tend to maintain more stable Local 3-Pack visibility compared to profiles with long gaps in activity.
A Practical Benchmark Approach
Instead of asking, “What number do I need?” a better question is:
“How many reviews do the top three competitors have?”
That comparison gives a realistic baseline for your local market. There is no guaranteed review threshold for the Local 3-Pack. However, steady review growth, strong ratings, and active engagement significantly improve your competitiveness over time.
