SEO Keyword Density Calculator

What keyword density is (and what it isn’t)

Keyword density measures how often a target keyword or phrase appears in a piece of content relative to the total number of words. It’s typically expressed as a percentage. Writers and editors use it as a quick diagnostic: if a page repeats the same phrase unusually often, it can feel repetitive to readers and may look mechanically optimized. If it appears too rarely, the page might not communicate its topic clearly.

At the same time, keyword density is not a guaranteed ranking lever. Modern search systems evaluate relevance using many signals (topic coverage, meaning/semantics, links, user satisfaction, and more). Density is best treated as a readability and focus check, not a fixed target you must “hit.”

The core formula

This calculator uses the standard density equation:

• D = keyword density (%)
• k = number of times the keyword/phrase occurs
• w = total word count of the content

If you provide a Target Density (%), the calculator can also estimate the keyword count that would correspond to that target:

Suggested occurrences = w × (target ÷ 100)

How to interpret the results

Use the percentage as a signal to review the content, not as a strict rule. A “high” density could mean any of the following:

• The keyword is repeated in adjacent sentences (reads unnatural).
• Headings or template elements repeat the phrase too often (navigation, boilerplate).
• The content is thin, so the phrase occupies a large share of total words.

A “low” density might indicate:

• The page is broad and covers many subtopics, so the exact phrase appears less often.
• You’re relying on synonyms/variants (which can be fine).
• The target keyword is present in key locations (title/H1/intro) but not repeated (often fine for quality writing).

Worked example (using the default inputs)

Imagine an article with 1,000 words where your keyword appears 10 times:

• w = 1000
• k = 10

Density:

D = (10 ÷ 1000) × 100 = 1.0%

If your target density is 2%, the implied occurrences would be:

1000 × (2 ÷ 100) = 20

That doesn’t mean you should automatically add 10 more exact repetitions. Instead, review whether the topic is adequately covered, whether the phrase appears in prominent places (title, headings, intro), and whether additional mentions would help readers (or simply repeat what’s already clear).

Typical ranges by content type (use as guidance, not rules)

What to do if your density is high or low

If density seems high

• Replace some exact matches with natural variants (plural/singular, re-ordered phrasing) where it improves readability.
• Add supporting details (examples, steps, definitions) so total word count increases without forced repetition.
• Check for repeated boilerplate: headers, footers, and widgets can contribute to visible text depending on how you counted words.

If density seems low

• Ensure the keyword (or a close variant) appears in the title, main heading, and early in the introduction if it fits naturally.
• Add sections that directly answer the searcher’s intent (often this improves topical clarity more than repeating a phrase).
• Verify you are measuring what you think you are measuring (exact phrase vs synonyms vs partial matches).

Assumptions & limitations

• Exact-match counting: This calculator assumes you already know the number of occurrences (k). It does not crawl your text or automatically detect matches.
• What counts as an occurrence: Your counting method matters (exact phrase vs partial match, case sensitivity, pluralization, punctuation, and whether headings/menus are included).
• Multi-word phrases: “Keyword occurrences” should be counted as full phrase matches if you’re tracking a phrase (e.g., “keyword density”), not individual words.
• Not a ranking guarantee: A particular density percentage does not ensure better rankings. Over-optimizing for density can reduce clarity and user satisfaction.
• Short content distortion: On short pages, one additional mention can swing the percentage sharply, making comparisons less meaningful.

Quick checklist for practical use

• Write for readers first; use density as a review metric.
• Prefer clear topic coverage, examples, and structure over repeating a phrase.
• Use variants and related terms naturally; avoid mechanical repetition.
• Re-check density after major edits (adding sections often changes the percentage).