What is Keyword Density?
Keyword density is the percentage of times a keyword appears relative to the total word count on a page. It's a fundamental metric in SEO that helps search engines understand what your content is about. Our Keyword Density Checker analyzes your text and reveals which words appear most frequently.
By understanding keyword distribution, you can optimize content for search engines without falling into the trap of keyword stuffing—a practice that can actually hurt your rankings.
The Keyword Density Formula
Calculating keyword density is straightforward:
For example, if "SEO" appears 15 times in a 1,000-word article, the density is 1.5%.
Ideal Keyword Density by Content Type
| Content Type | Recommended Density | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blog Posts | 1-2% | Natural integration with related terms |
| Product Pages | 2-3% | Higher density acceptable for specificity |
| Landing Pages | 1.5-2.5% | Focus on conversion, not just keywords |
| Long-form Guides | 0.5-1.5% | LSI keywords matter more than primary |
⚠️ Warning: Keyword Stuffing
Keyword density above 3% may trigger spam filters. Google penalizes keyword stuffing. Focus on semantic relevance and LSI keywords (related terms) rather than repeating the same keyword.
Beyond Single Keywords: N-grams
Modern SEO focuses on phrases (n-grams) rather than single words:
- Bigrams: Two-word phrases ("content marketing")
- Trigrams: Three-word phrases ("search engine optimization")
- Long-tail keywords: 4+ word phrases ("best SEO tools for beginners")
Our tool shows you the most frequent phrases in your content, helping you optimize for long-tail keywords that often have less competition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best keyword density for SEO?
There's no magic number. Google has stated that density isn't a ranking factor. Instead, focus on natural language, topic coverage, and user intent. Use this tool to ensure you're not over-optimizing.
Does this include stop words?
Our tool typically filters common stop words (the, a, is, etc.) from the analysis to focus on meaningful keywords. These words appear frequently but don't indicate topic relevance.
How do I use this for competitor analysis?
Copy competitor content and paste it here. Compare their keyword distribution to yours. Look for topics they cover that you might be missing, and identify their primary and secondary keywords.
SEO Best Practices
- Use synonyms: Vary your vocabulary to avoid repetition
- Focus on headings: Include keywords in H1, H2, H3 tags
- Write for humans first: If it sounds unnatural, rewrite it
- Check competitors: Analyze top-ranking pages for your target keyword
- Update regularly: Re-optimize old content with current keyword research