Updated June 2026.
Quick answer: A Google Maps heatmap checks your business ranking for a keyword from many geographic points across a city and shows the results as a colour-coded map. Green points are where you rank in the top 3, red points are where you are nearly invisible. You can run one free at localseotool.io with a 3x3 grid in under 60 seconds, no credit card.
If you search your own business on Google Maps and see "#3 near downtown," that number is true only for your exact location. A customer two miles away might see you at #14. A Google Maps heatmap exposes that gap instantly by testing your ranking from a whole grid of points at once.
What is a Google Maps heatmap?
A Google Maps heatmap (also called a geo-grid or local SEO heatmap) is a visual map of your Google Business Profile ranking across a city. Instead of one ranking number, you get a grid of coloured points: each point is a real Google Maps search run from those exact coordinates, coloured by where you rank there.
It is the visual version of a local SEO rank checker. For the full mechanics of how the grid scans Google, see our local SEO heatmap tool guide.
Why a single Maps ranking is misleading
Google personalises Maps results by proximity, so your ranking changes with the searcher's location. A plumber might dominate near their address and disappear in the next suburb, all while a single-point tracker reports a comfortable average. The heatmap shows the truth that the average hides.
One agency found a client ranking #2 in the city centre but #18 just two miles out, a gap completely invisible to a single ranking number.
What the heatmap colours mean
- Green (rank 1 to 3): strong visibility, you are in the Local Pack top 3.
- Amber (rank 4 to 7): visible but below the fold for many searchers.
- Orange (rank 8 to 15): weak, only people looking for you will find you.
- Red (rank 16+): effectively invisible from that point.
A healthy map is mostly green in the areas your customers actually live and search. Red patches in your core service area are your first priority. For a deeper read on grid size and colour scales, see how to read a local SEO heatmap.
How to run a free Google Maps heatmap
- Create a free account at localseotool.io. No credit card is required.
- Add your business by name or paste its Google Maps URL.
- Enter a keyword, for example "dentist near me," and set the city.
- Pick a grid size. The free plan covers grids up to 5x5.
- Run the report on the heatmap tool and watch each point fill in, usually within 60 seconds.
Prefer plain numbers over a map? Use the rank checker for the same data as a grid of positions.
How to use your heatmap
Read the map from your most valuable neighbourhoods outward. Where you are red or orange in areas with real customers, that is where to focus: tighten your Google Business Profile categories, build location-relevant citations, earn reviews from those areas, and add service-area content. Re-run the heatmap weekly with scheduled scans and compare months with grid reports to prove progress. For the underlying tactics, see how to rank higher on Google Maps.
Google Maps heatmap FAQ
Is a Google Maps heatmap free?
Yes. localseotool.io has a free plan with grids up to 5x5, one business, and several reports per month, no credit card required. Larger grids up to 13x13 and automation are on the paid plans.
How accurate is the heatmap?
Each point is a real Google Maps search from those exact GPS coordinates, so it reflects what a real user there would see. There is no averaging or modelling. Results change over time as Google updates rankings, so regular scans give the most current picture.
Is a heatmap the same as a rank tracker?
A geo-grid rank tracker collects the data and a heatmap displays it as a colour-coded map. Most tools do both. See heatmap vs rank tracker for which view to use when.
What grid size should I use?
For one neighbourhood a 3x3 or 5x5 grid is enough. For a full city use 7x7 or 9x9, and for a large metro use 13x13. More on this in geo-grid rank tracking explained.