Average CTR by search position for locksmith keywords 2026
The average click-through rate (CTR) on Google's first organic result is 27.6%, and it falls to 2.4% by position 10. No locksmith-specific CTR dataset exists in the inputs behind this page, so the table below is the published cross-industry curve, labeled as such. Treat it as the yardstick for locksmith keywords in 2026, not as locksmith-measured data.
TL;DR
Position 1 earns an average 27.6% CTR; position 10 earns 2.4%, per a 2023 analysis of 4 million Google results.
The top three positions take 54.4% of clicks combined, so ctr by search position benchmark locksmith planning starts at page-one top three.
No locksmith-only CTR figures are included here; locksmith searches with a map pack shift clicks away from organic listings.
Use the curve to size the gap between your current position and position 3, then prioritize the keywords with the biggest jump.
Why this matters
A locksmith search is an urgent search. Someone locked out or holding no car key picks one of the first results and calls. Ranking 7th instead of 3rd in 2026 is the difference between a steady stream of calls and almost none.
So the question is not whether to rank, it is which keywords are worth the push. The CTR curve answers that.
Average CTR by Google position (2026 yardstick)
Source: Backlinko analysis of 4 million Google search results, published 2023, all industries, desktop and mobile combined, organic listings only. This is the most widely cited public curve; it is not locksmith-specific, and it does not describe your own Search Console numbers.
Organic position | Average CTR | Share vs. position 1 |
1 | 27.6% | Baseline |
2 | 15.8% | 57% of position 1 |
3 | 11.0% | 40% of position 1 |
4 | 8.4% | 30% of position 1 |
5 | 6.3% | 23% of position 1 |
6 | 4.9% | 18% of position 1 |
7 | 3.9% | 14% of position 1 |
8 | 3.3% | 12% of position 1 |
9 | 2.7% | 10% of position 1 |
10 | 2.4% | 9% of position 1 |
Overall, positions 1-3 combined | 54.4% | Baseline for the top block |
The all-position yardstick for page one is simple: the average first-page result below the top three earns under 9% of clicks.
What the numbers say
Position 1 leads at 27.6%. Position 10 trails at 2.4%. That is an 11.5x gap between the first and last page-one result.
The steepest single drop is between positions 1 and 2: 11.8 percentage points. Moving from position 3 to position 1 more than doubles your clicks (11.0% to 27.6%, about 2.5x).
If your locksmith pages sit at positions 4-10, each step up is worth less in absolute terms than the climb into the top three. The gain concentrates at the top.
Methodology and limits
The figures come from a 2023 study of 4 million Google results across industries, measuring clicks against impressions by organic position. It covers organic blue links only.
One named limitation: this data cannot tell you how local intent behaves. Locksmith searches such as lockout or car key replacement near me often trigger a map pack, ads and other features above the organic list. Those features pull clicks away from the organic positions, so the real organic CTR on a locksmith keyword with a map pack is likely below these averages. The inputs for this page do not quantify that gap, so it is not quantified here.
How to use these benchmarks
Pull your own Search Console CTR by position. Compare it with the table. If your position-3 page earns well under 11.0%, your title and description are the problem, not your ranking.
Rank keywords by distance to the top three. A page at position 5 or 6 is the cheapest to move. The jump to position 3 roughly doubles clicks (6.3% to 11.0% from position 5).
Treat the map pack as a separate channel. For urgent locksmith queries, a complete business profile and reviews matter alongside organic rank.
Protect what already ranks. Losing position 1 to position 2 costs 11.8 points of CTR in 2026 and takes months to win back.
What this means for a mobile automotive locksmith
Automotive locksmith searches are high-intent. A driver typing lost car keys Tampa wants a mobile technician who can come to the vehicle, diagnose, cut, program and test. Dealer-tow results compete for the same click, and a locksmith page that states the service area and the 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM hours earns trust faster than a generic listing.
Pro On The Go Locksmith serves Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk, Manatee and Pasco counties. Cost depends on the vehicle and the key, so a page that explains that honestly tends to hold a click better than one that dodges it.
For search demand by keyword in this market, see the search volume benchmarks for Tampa car key and locksmith keywords. Pair demand with the CTR curve above to estimate what a ranking is worth.
Locked out or lost your keys?
Mobile car key service across the Tampa Bay area, 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
Where the benchmark breaks down
A 27.6% average hides wide variance. Branded queries, queries with featured snippets and queries with heavy ad blocks all deviate from the mean. A navigational search for a competitor's name sends nearly every click to that competitor.
CTR also shifts with device. Mobile screens show fewer organic results above the fold, which compresses clicks toward the top of the page. Most locksmith searches happen on a phone, in a hurry.
Use the table to set expectations and spot outliers. Do not use it to forecast calls to the decimal.
FAQ
What is the average CTR for position 1 on Google in 2026?
The widely cited average for position 1 is 27.6%, from a 2023 analysis of 4 million Google results across industries. Your own rate varies with query type and search features.
Is there a separate CTR benchmark for locksmith keywords?
No locksmith-only benchmark is included here. Use the cross-industry curve as a yardstick and compare it with your own Search Console data.
What CTR does position 3 get?
Position 3 averages 11.0% in the same study. The top three positions combined take 54.4% of clicks.
Why is locksmith CTR often lower than the benchmark?
Locksmith searches usually trigger a map pack and ads above the organic list. Those results absorb clicks that would otherwise go to organic positions.
Is moving from position 5 to position 3 worth it?
Yes. The average CTR rises from 6.3% to 11.0%, about 1.7x more clicks for the same impressions.
How do I find my own CTR by position?
Open the Performance report in Google Search Console, filter by query or page, and read the CTR and average position columns over the last 28 days.
Does CTR matter more than ranking?
They work together. A position-3 page with a weak title can earn less than the 11.0% average, so rewriting the title and description is often the fastest fix.
One last thing
The gap between position 1 and position 2 (11.8 points) is larger than the gap between position 4 and position 10 combined (6.0 points). Chasing the last spot on page one buys almost nothing in 2026. Chasing the top spot buys the most.
