What is keyword density?
Keyword density is the percentage of your total words that a given keyword represents. If a keyword appears 8 times in a 400-word article, its density is 2%. This tool measures density for single words, two-word phrases (bigrams), and three-word phrases (trigrams), and lets you focus on a target keyword to see how prominent it is.
Is there an ideal density?
There is no magic number, and chasing one is a mistake. Modern search engines understand topics through meaning and context, not raw repetition, so a natural density (often loosely cited around 1 to 2%) is simply a by-product of writing thoroughly about a subject. Write for the reader first; if the keyword reads naturally and the topic is well covered, the density takes care of itself.
Avoiding keyword stuffing
Keyword stuffing is cramming a keyword in unnaturally to manipulate rankings. It reads badly, and search engines actively penalise it. Warning signs are a single phrase repeated far more than any related term, sentences that feel awkward, and lists of near-identical keywords. The checker flags stuffing risk so you can dial it back before it hurts you.
How to use density today
Rather than hitting a target percentage, use this tool diagnostically: confirm your main topic actually appears in the copy, spot accidental over-repetition, and check that you are using related terms and synonyms (lexical diversity) rather than the same phrase over and over. Good placement (title, first paragraph, a heading) matters far more than sheer count.
Last updated: July 2026