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The Google map pack: how a new business gets in
For most local services, the three businesses on the Google map get most of the calls. Here is how that spot is decided, and what the competition looks like in 325 US markets.
What the map pack is
Search a local service like "gutter installation" and Google shows a map with three businesses above the regular results. That block is the map pack, also called the local 3-pack. On a phone it fills most of the first screen, so those three companies get most of the calls.
Below it come the regular results: company websites, directories like Yelp and Angi, and articles. For some services, paid "Google Guaranteed" ads sit above everything.
What decides who gets in
- Relevance. Your Business Profile's main category and services match what people search.
- Distance. How close you are to the person searching, or to the town in the search.
- Prominence. Reviews, ratings, links and how well known you are. This is the part you build over time.
Size up your market in five minutes
- Count the reviews on the top three. If all three have hundreds, it will take a while. If one has under 30, there is room for a newcomer.
- Look at their websites. Thin or outdated sites are an opening for a business that does this well.
- Look under the map. If the regular results are mostly Yelp and national directories, a local company with a good website can rank there too.
- Look for paid "Google Guaranteed" ads. When they show, they push everyone else down the screen.
How established the leaders are, by business
Median review count of the top three businesses on Google Maps, and the share of the top Google results held by directories, across every market we track. Fewer reviews means an easier market to enter.
| Business | Top-3 median reviews | Top results held by directories |
|---|---|---|
| Crane rental | 6 | 11% |
| Seawall repair | 8 | 0% |
| Spray foam insulation | 18 | 0% |
| Foundation repair | 21 | 29% |
| Epoxy garage floors | 21 | 0% |
| Pool resurfacing | 27 | 25% |
| Septic pumping | 44 | 33% |
| Shower door installation | 46 | 0% |
| Gutter installation | 54 | 33% |
| Generator installation | 60 | 0% |
From the October 2026 data. See where each business has the most room on best businesses to start.
Questions
What is the Google map pack?
The block of three local businesses with a map that Google shows for searches like 'gutter installation' or 'septic pumping near me'. It sits above the regular results and gets most of the calls.
How do you get into the Google Maps top 3?
Google weighs relevance, distance and prominence. In practice: a verified Business Profile in the right category, a real address near your customers, a steady flow of reviews, and a website that matches your services and towns.
How many reviews do you need to rank in the map pack?
It depends on the business and the area. In our latest data the median top-3 company ranged from about 6 reviews in crane rental to 60 in generator installation. Aim to match the local leaders, not a fixed number.
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