What is Keyword Density? The Complete SEO Guide (2026)
Updated February 2026 · 9 min read
Quick Answer
Keyword density is the percentage of times your keyword appears in your content. The ideal keyword density is 1-2%. Anything above 3% risks keyword stuffing penalties.
How to Calculate Keyword Density
The formula for keyword density is simple.
Keyword Density = (Keyword Occurrences ÷ Total Words) × 100
For example: If your article is 1000 words and your keyword appears 15 times, your keyword density is 15 ÷ 1000 × 100 = 1.5%.
Quick Reference
Keyword Density in 2024 — What Really Matters
Google has moved far beyond simple keyword counting. Here is what modern SEO keyword strategy looks like.
Semantic Keywords
Google understands related terms and synonyms. Instead of repeating your exact keyword, use related words and phrases. If your keyword is 'mortgage calculator', also use 'home loan payment', 'monthly mortgage', 'mortgage rates'.
Topical Coverage
Google rewards content that comprehensively covers a topic. Cover related subtopics, answer follow up questions and provide context rather than just stuffing your primary keyword.
Natural Language
Write for humans first, search engines second. If your keyword appears naturally in the flow of writing at 1-2%, that is perfect. Never force keywords into sentences where they sound unnatural.
Keyword Placement
Where your keyword appears matters as much as how often. Include it in your title, H1, first 100 words, at least one H2, and naturally throughout the body. These placements signal relevance to Google.
Signs of Keyword Stuffing to Avoid
Repeating the same keyword in every sentence
Using keywords in sentences where they sound unnatural
Adding keyword lists or keyword blocks in footers
Using invisible text with keywords (black text on black background)
Adding keywords in meta keywords tags excessively
Using the same keyword in alt text for every image
Creating multiple pages targeting the same keyword
Check Your Keyword Density Free
Use our free keyword density checker to analyze your content and see exactly how your keywords are distributed throughout your text.
Check Keyword Density Free →Frequently Asked Questions
What is keyword density?
Keyword density is the percentage of times a keyword appears in your content compared to the total word count. It is calculated by dividing keyword occurrences by total words and multiplying by 100.
What is the ideal keyword density?
The ideal keyword density is 1-2% for your primary keyword. Going above 3% risks being flagged for keyword stuffing by Google which can hurt your rankings.
Does keyword density still matter for SEO?
Keyword density matters less than it did 10 years ago. Modern Google uses semantic understanding and context rather than simple keyword frequency. Focus on natural usage and topical relevance rather than hitting a specific percentage.
What is keyword stuffing?
Keyword stuffing is the practice of unnaturally overloading a page with keywords to manipulate rankings. Google penalizes keyword stuffing. Signs include awkward repetition, keywords in unnatural places and lists of keywords without context.
How do I check keyword density?
Use a free keyword density checker tool. Paste your content and enter your target keyword to instantly see how many times it appears and what percentage of your total word count it represents.