Keyword density checker
ContentCount how often words and phrases appear in your text to spot overuse and check that the main topic comes through clearly. Free, no signup, and it runs entirely in your browser.
Single words
Two-word phrases
Three-word phrases
How to use it
- Paste your text into the box.
- Add a focus keyword and choose whether to ignore stop words.
- Review the word, phrase and focus keyword counts.
What keyword density means
Keyword density is the share of words in a piece of text taken up by a particular word or phrase. If a 400-word page uses a two-word phrase five times, those ten words make up 2.5 percent of the text. This tool counts single words and two- and three-word phrases, then shows how often each appears and what share of the total it represents.
It also gives you word count, unique words, sentence count and an estimated reading time, which are useful for a quick sense of length.
Density is not a ranking target
There is no ideal keyword density. Search engines do not reward a page for hitting a set percentage, and Google has long advised against repeating keywords to try to rank. Modern search systems understand synonyms, related terms and the overall meaning of a page. A page about emergency dental care can rank for "urgent dentist" without repeating that exact phrase.
Use this tool as a diagnostic, not a goal. It answers two practical questions: is the main topic clear, and is any phrase so repeated that the writing feels forced?
How to read the results
- Focus keyword. If the phrase does not appear at all, check that the topic is obvious from the text. If it is heavy, read the passage aloud. Where it sounds clunky, swap in a pronoun, a synonym or a more specific term.
- Single words. The top words should reflect your subject. If generic words dominate, the content may be vague.
- Phrases. Two- and three-word phrases show how you are actually describing the topic. Repeated phrases that do not match how customers search might point to a wording gap. Our guide to keyword research for local businesses can help you find the terms people use.
The stop word option hides very common words like "the" and "and" from single-word counts so the meaningful terms rise to the top. Phrases that start or end with a stop word are always skipped.
What matters more than repetition
Pages tend to perform well when they fully answer the searcher's question, cover related subtopics and are easy to read. Mention the main phrase where it fits naturally, such as in the title, the H1 and early in the opening paragraph, then write for the reader. Pair this tool with the readability checker to make sure your text is clear as well as on topic.
Questions, answered
What is a good keyword density percentage?
There is no good percentage to aim for. Search engines do not rank pages by density, and chasing a number usually makes writing worse. Use the count to confirm the topic is present and to catch heavy repetition. If the text reads naturally and clearly covers the subject, the density is fine.
Why does the tool warn me above 3 percent?
The 3 percent mark is a rough prompt to reread, not a limit. At that point a phrase is repeated often enough that it may sound forced, especially in short text. If the passage still reads naturally, you can leave it. If it feels repetitive, vary the wording with synonyms or pronouns.
Does keyword stuffing still hurt rankings?
Yes. Google's spam policies specifically name keyword stuffing, meaning filling a page with repeated keywords in an attempt to manipulate rankings. Beyond that risk, stuffed text reads poorly and pushes visitors away. Clear, helpful writing that uses the main term naturally is both safer and more persuasive.
Should I check density for the whole page or just the body text?
Paste just the main body content. Navigation menus, footers and sidebars repeat across your site and would skew the counts toward words like your brand name or service list. Checking the main content alone shows you how the page actually talks about its topic, which is what you want to judge.
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