Review Rating Calculator
How many five-star reviews do you need to reach 4.5? Enter your rating and review count to find out.
As shown on Google, e.g. 4.2
The total beside your stars
Where you want to be, e.g. 4.5
To reach 4.5 you need
29 more five-star reviews
That takes you from 48 to 77 reviews.
Every step up from 4.2
| Target | New reviews needed |
|---|---|
| 4.3 ★ | 7 |
| 4.4 ★ | 16 |
| 4.5 ★ | 29 |
| 4.6 ★ | 48 |
| 4.7 ★ | 80 |
| 4.8 ★ | 144 |
| 4.9 ★ | 336 |
Google shows your rating rounded to one decimal place, so your real average may be a little higher or lower than the number you typed. Treat the answer as a close estimate and allow a few extra.
How to use the calculator
- 1
Enter your current rating
The star rating shown on your Google Business Profile, like 4.2.
- 2
Enter your review count
The number of reviews shown beside your stars.
- 3
Set your target
The rating you want to reach, and whether new reviews will all be five stars or a more realistic mix.
The formula
Your total stars are your rating times your review count. Each five-star review adds five stars and one review. Solve for the point where the new average reaches your target:
The last step is always the slowest. Going from 4.2 to 4.3 takes a handful of reviews; going from 4.8 to 4.9 can take hundreds, because each new five-star review is only a little above your average.
reviews needed =
count × (target − current)
÷
(5 − target)
Example
50 reviews at 4.2, aiming for 4.5: 50 × 0.3 ÷ 0.5 = 30 new five-star reviews.
The only reliable way to get there
Ask every customer, every time, and make it one tap. Most happy customers never review because nobody asked. Buying reviews, offering discounts for them or only asking the happy ones breaks Google’s rules and puts the reviews you already have at risk. Start with a direct review link or a QR code for the counter.
Frequently asked questions
How is the number of reviews needed calculated?
Your total stars are your rating multiplied by your review count. Each new five-star review adds 5 stars and 1 review. The calculator finds the smallest number of new reviews where total stars divided by total reviews reaches your target: reviews needed = current count × (target − current rating) ÷ (5 − target), rounded up.
Why does going from 4.8 to 4.9 take so many reviews?
Because each five-star review can only lift the average by the gap between 5 and where you are. At 4.2 every new five-star review is 0.8 above your average and pulls it up quickly. At 4.8 it is only 0.2 above, so each one moves the needle a quarter as much. The closer you get to 5, the slower it goes.
Can I ever reach a 5.0 rating?
Only if every review you have is five stars. Once there is a single review below five, the average can get very close to 5.0 but never reach it, however many five-star reviews follow. A 4.8 or 4.9 is also more believable to customers than a perfect score.
How does Google calculate my star rating?
It is the average star rating of the reviews on your Business Profile, shown to one decimal place. Because the number you see is rounded, your exact average is slightly hidden, and new or removed reviews can take a little while to show in it. Treat this calculator’s answer as a close estimate and aim for a few extra.
How much does one bad review hurt?
It depends on how many reviews you have. With 10 reviews at 4.5, a single one-star review drops you to about 4.2. With 200 reviews at 4.5, the same review moves you to 4.48, which still shows as 4.5. The more reviews you have, the less any single one can move your rating.
Can I buy reviews or offer a discount to reach my target faster?
No. Buying reviews, offering incentives for them and only asking customers you expect to be happy all breach Google’s policies, and Google removes reviews and can restrict listings for it. The way to reach a target is to ask every customer, every time, and make it one tap with a direct review link.
Watch your rating move
Dinopix Reviews collects every review from Google, Facebook and more into one inbox, tracks your rating over time and drafts your replies. Start free, with one Google listing and one Facebook page.
Free plan. No credit card required.