Keyword Density

Definition

Keyword density is the percentage of times a target keyword or phrase appears on a web page compared to the total number of words. For example, if a 1,000-word article uses a keyword 15 times, the keyword density is 1.5%. While there's no officially confirmed 'ideal' density, SEO best practices suggest keeping primary keyword density between 1-3%. Going above 3-4% risks triggering Google's over-optimization (keyword stuffing) filters, which can result in lower rankings or penalties. Modern SEO focuses less on exact keyword density and more on natural language, semantic relevance, and topical coverage. Use related terms and synonyms rather than repeating the exact same phrase.