--- title: "Near Me Map Pack Study: Google's Top 3 Changes 57.1%" url: https://www.suffdigital.com/resources/data-studies/near-me-changes-map-pack description: "Our near me map pack study found adding \"near me\" changes Google's three map pack businesses 57.1% of the time, and 83.5% for restaurants. Read the study." lang: en --- Share Share on X: https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.suffdigital.com%2Fresources%2Fdata-studies%2Fnear-me-changes-map-pack&text=Adding%20%22Near%20Me%22%20Changes%20the%20Google%20Map%20Pack%2057.1%25%20of%20the%20Time Share on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.suffdigital.com%2Fresources%2Fdata-studies%2Fnear-me-changes-map-pack Share on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.suffdigital.com%2Fresources%2Fdata-studies%2Fnear-me-changes-map-pack Share on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.suffdigital.com%2Fresources%2Fdata-studies%2Fnear-me-changes-map-pack&title=Adding%20%22Near%20Me%22%20Changes%20the%20Google%20Map%20Pack%2057.1%25%20of%20the%20Time Searching "plumber near me" instead of "plumber" changes the three businesses in Google's map pack **57.1%** of the time. The exact same three businesses in the same order appear for both versions in 22.8% of searches, and for restaurants the map pack changes 83.5% of the time. Analysis of 1,580 pairs of Google Maps searches for 20 local services in 79 US cities · Google Maps results, September 2026 ## Key Findings 1. 1. **57.1%** of the time, adding "near me" to a Google Maps search changes which three businesses appear in the map pack. Copy stat 2. 2. A local search with and without "near me" shows the exact same three businesses in the same order in **22.8%** of cases. Copy stat 3. 3. The "near me" and plain versions of a Google Maps search share **2.3** of their three map pack businesses on average. Copy stat 4. 4. Adding "near me" changes the Google map pack for **83.5%** of restaurant searches and 79.7% of plumber searches, against 29.1% of pest control searches. Copy stat 5. 5. Adding "near me" changes the Google map pack in **60.7%** of large-city searches, against 50.9% in small towns. Copy stat ## Summary A plumbing company owner checks Google, types "plumber" and the city name, and sees the business sitting third in the map pack. A customer across town types "plumber near me" and sees a different third business. Both searches mean the same thing to the customer, but not to Google. The map pack, the three businesses Google shows with a map at the top of local search results, gets most of the calls from local searches. Many owners check their ranking for one version of a search and assume it holds for every version. For a business sitting near the edge of the top three, the wording a customer happens to type can decide whether it appears at all. Adding "near me" changes the map pack **57.1%** of the time. The change often swaps one business: the two versions share 2.3 of their three businesses on average, and the exact same three in the same order appear in 22.8% of cases. Restaurant and plumber searches shift the most, pest control and locksmith searches the least. ## What we measured On September 23, 2026 we analyzed Google Maps results for 20 local services, such as plumber, restaurant and pest control, in 79 US cities. For every service and city we compared two versions of the search, from the same location on the same day: the plain search, such as "plumber", and the "near me" version, such as "plumber near me". That gives 1,580 pairs. For each pair we compared the three businesses in the map pack. A pair counts as changed when the two sets of three businesses are not identical. We also counted how many businesses the two versions share and whether the order is the same, and split the results by service and by city size. ## Near me often swaps one business 57.1% of the time, adding "near me" changes the businesses in Google's map pack. A complete swap is rare: 1.1% of pairs have no business in common. The typical change is one business in and one out, often with the order reshuffled. That is why 42.9% of pairs show the same three businesses in any order, but only 22.8% show them in the same order. Share of pairs by outcome for the pair of searches Same three businesses, same order 22.8% Same three businesses, any order 42.9% Map pack changed 57.1% No business in common 1.1% Source: Suff Digital analysis of 1,580 pairs of Google Maps searches for 20 local services in 79 US cities · Google Maps results, September 2026 So a strong local business usually shows up in both versions, while the third spot and the order change hands often. For a business at number three or four, the wording can decide whether the customer sees it. ## Restaurant and plumber searches shift most The amount of change varies widely by service. Restaurant, plumber and real estate searches change in about four of five cities: 83.5%, 79.7% and 78.5%. Pest control (29.1%), locksmith (36.7%) and veterinarian (41.8%) searches are much more stable. Map pack changed by service searched Restaurant 83.5% Plumber 79.7% Real estate agent 78.5% Hair salon 74.7% Landscaper 72.2% Accountant 67.1% HVAC company 65.8% Roofer 60.8% Dentist 58.2% Electrician 53.2% Personal injury lawyer 50.6% Moving company 45.6% Veterinarian 41.8% Locksmith 36.7% Pest control 29.1% | Service searched | Map pack changed | Businesses shared (of 3) | | --- | --- | --- | | Restaurant | 83.5% | 1.82 | | Plumber | 79.7% | 2 | | Real estate agent | 78.5% | 1.87 | | Hair salon | 74.7% | 2.11 | | Landscaper | 72.2% | 1.99 | | Accountant | 67.1% | 2.19 | | HVAC company | 65.8% | 2.27 | | Roofer | 60.8% | 2.27 | | Dentist | 58.2% | 2.27 | | Electrician | 53.2% | 2.42 | | Personal injury lawyer | 50.6% | 2.41 | | Moving company | 45.6% | 2.46 | | Veterinarian | 41.8% | 2.53 | | Locksmith | 36.7% | 2.58 | | Pest control | 29.1% | 2.67 | Restaurant, salon and real estate searches draw on many businesses packed close together, so small differences in how Google reads the search are enough to reshuffle the top three. In pest control and locksmith searches, the same businesses usually hold the map pack in both versions. For plumbers, where 79.7% of pairs change, tracking only one version of the search misses most of the picture. ## Large cities see more change than small towns Adding "near me" changes the map pack in 60.7% of large-city searches, against 50.9% in small towns. Large cities have more businesses of every kind within reach of the search location, so there are more candidates to swap in. Even in small towns, though, half of all searches show a different map pack with "near me". No business, in any size of market, can assume its position for one wording holds for the other. ## What this means for local business owners Track both versions of your main searches. If you only watch "dentist Denver", you may miss that "dentist near me" shows a different set of practices. Use a rank tracker that lets you add "near me" versions, or one that checks your position from several points across your service area. Do not change your profile to chase the "near me" wording. Google does not need the words "near me" on your website or Google listing to match these searches; it uses the searcher's location. Focus instead on what holds your place in both versions: reviews, the right business categories and a complete Google Business Profile. If you run a restaurant, plumbing company or real estate office, check more often, since those searches change most. Our local seo packages (https://www.suffdigital.com/seo/local-seo-services) track paired search versions so shifts like these show up in every report. ## Embed this research Paste this on your site to embed the charts. It links back to the source automatically.

Source: Adding "Near Me" Changes the Google Map Pack 57.1% of the Time - Suff Digital

## Cite this study APA Suff Digital. (2026). Adding "Near Me" Changes the Google Map Pack 57.1% of the Time. https://www.suffdigital.com/resources/data-studies/near-me-changes-map-pack Plain link Adding "Near Me" Changes the Google Map Pack 57.1% of the Time - Suff Digital - https://www.suffdigital.com/resources/data-studies/near-me-changes-map-pack ## Frequently asked questions ### Does "near me" change Google Maps results? ### How different are the map pack results with "near me"? ### Which local searches change most with "near me"? ### Does "near me" change results more in big cities? ## Related studies - Local SEO 72.4% of Google Map Pack Businesses Are Within a Mile of the Search Location: https://www.suffdigital.com/resources/data-studies/map-pack-distance-from-searcher - Local SEO Google Maps Shows an Out-of-Town Plumber in 41.4% of Small-Town Searches vs 17.9% Overall: https://www.suffdigital.com/resources/data-studies/small-town-map-pack-out-of-town-businesses - Local SEO The No. 1 Business on Google Maps Has a Median of 101 Reviews vs 39 at Position 20: https://www.suffdigital.com/resources/data-studies/map-pack-ranking-factors-reviews - Local SEO Independent Businesses Hold 93.3% of Google Map Pack Spots vs 6.7% for Chains: https://www.suffdigital.com/resources/data-studies/chains-vs-local-businesses-map-pack ## Structured data ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://www.suffdigital.com/#organization", "name": "Suff Digital", "alternateName": "Suff Digital Marketing", "url": "https://www.suffdigital.com/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://www.suffdigital.com/#logo", "url": "https://www.suffdigital.com/logo.png", "contentUrl": "https://www.suffdigital.com/logo.png", "caption": "Suff Digital" }, "image": { "@id": "https://www.suffdigital.com/#logo" }, "description": "Suff Digital is a full-stack digital marketing agency that turns websites into predictable revenue engines, SEO, paid media, content, CRO, and web design built around revenue, not vanity metrics.", "slogan": "Digital marketing built for what's next.", "email": "hello@suffdigital.com", "telephone": "+1-629-236-0099", "foundingDate": "2022", "founder": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matt Suffoletto", "jobTitle": "Founder & CEO" }, "contactPoint": [ { "@type": "ContactPoint", "telephone": "+1-629-236-0099", "email": "hello@suffdigital.com", "contactType": "sales", "areaServed": "US", "availableLanguage": [ "en" ] } ], "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "addressLocality": "Nashville", "addressRegion": "TN", "postalCode": "37219", "addressCountry": "US" }, "areaServed": { "@type": "Country", "name": "United States" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.linkedin.com/company/suff-digital/", "https://www.instagram.com/suffdigital/", "https://www.youtube.com/@suffdigitalmarketing", "https://www.tiktok.com/@suffdigital" ], "knowsAbout": [ "Search Engine Optimization", "Pay-Per-Click Advertising", "Paid Social Advertising", "Conversion Rate Optimization", "Web Design", "Digital PR", "Link Building", "Website Migration", "Website Maintenance and Support", "Technical SEO", "Local SEO", "AI Search Optimization" ], "hasOfferCatalog": { "@type": "OfferCatalog", "name": "Suff Digital Services", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "Offer", "itemOffered": { "@type": "Service", "name": "Search Engine Optimization (SEO)", "url": "https://www.suffdigital.com/" } }, { "@type": "Offer", "itemOffered": { "@type": "Service", "name": "Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising", "url": "https://www.suffdigital.com/services/ppc" } }, { "@type": "Offer", "itemOffered": { "@type": "Service", "name": "Paid Social Advertising", "url": "https://www.suffdigital.com/services/paid-social" } }, { "@type": "Offer", "itemOffered": { "@type": "Service", "name": "Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO)", "url": "https://www.suffdigital.com/services/cro" } }, { "@type": "Offer", "itemOffered": { "@type": "Service", "name": "Web Design", "url": "https://www.suffdigital.com/services/web-design" } }, { "@type": "Offer", "itemOffered": { "@type": "Service", "name": "Digital PR & Link Building", "url": "https://www.suffdigital.com/services/digital-pr" } }, { "@type": "Offer", "itemOffered": { "@type": "Service", "name": "Website Migration", "url": "https://www.suffdigital.com/services/website-migration" } }, { "@type": "Offer", "itemOffered": { "@type": "Service", "name": "Website Maintenance & Support", "url": "https://www.suffdigital.com/services/website-maintenance" } } ] } }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://www.suffdigital.com/#website", "url": "https://www.suffdigital.com/", "name": "Suff Digital", "inLanguage": "en-US", "publisher": { "@id": "https://www.suffdigital.com/#organization" } } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Article", "@id": "https://www.suffdigital.com/resources/data-studies/near-me-changes-map-pack#article", "headline": "Adding \"Near Me\" Changes the Google Map Pack 57.1% of the Time", "description": "Searching \"plumber near me\" instead of \"plumber\" changes the three businesses in Google's map pack 57.1% of the time. The exact same three businesses in the same order appear for both versions in 22.8% of searches, and for restaurants the map pack changes 83.5% of the time.", "image": [ "https://www.suffdigital.com/images/suff-digital-share-16x9.jpg" ], "url": "https://www.suffdigital.com/resources/data-studies/near-me-changes-map-pack", "datePublished": "2026-09-24", "dateModified": "2026-09-24", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matt Suffoletto", "jobTitle": "Founder & CEO", "url": "https://www.suffdigital.com/who-we-are" }, "publisher": { "@id": "https://www.suffdigital.com/#organization" }, "mainEntityOfPage": { "@id": "https://www.suffdigital.com/resources/data-studies/near-me-changes-map-pack", "@type": "WebPage" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://www.suffdigital.com/#website" } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://www.suffdigital.com/resources/data-studies/near-me-changes-map-pack#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://www.suffdigital.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Resources", "item": "https://www.suffdigital.com/resources" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Data Studies", "item": "https://www.suffdigital.com/resources/data-studies" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Adding \"Near Me\" Changes the Google Map Pack 57.1% of the Time" } ] }, { "@type": "Dataset", "@id": "https://www.suffdigital.com/resources/data-studies/near-me-changes-map-pack#dataset", "name": "Adding \"Near Me\" Changes the Google Map Pack 57.1% of the Time", "description": "Searching \"plumber near me\" instead of \"plumber\" changes the three businesses in Google's map pack 57.1% of the time. The exact same three businesses in the same order appear for both versions in 22.8% of searches, and for restaurants the map pack changes 83.5% of the time.", "url": "https://www.suffdigital.com/resources/data-studies/near-me-changes-map-pack", "creator": { "@id": "https://www.suffdigital.com/#organization" }, "datePublished": "2026-09-24", "dateModified": "2026-09-24", "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/", "isAccessibleForFree": true, "measurementTechnique": "Google Maps search results" }, { "@type": "FAQPage", "@id": "https://www.suffdigital.com/resources/data-studies/near-me-changes-map-pack#faq", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does \"near me\" change Google Maps results?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes, often. Adding \"near me\" to a local search changes which three businesses appear in Google's map pack 57.1% of the time (September 2026)." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How different are the map pack results with \"near me\"?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The map pack changed in 57.1% of paired searches. On average the plain and \"near me\" versions share 2.3 of their three map pack businesses, and the exact same three in the same order appear 22.8% of the time." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Which local searches change most with \"near me\"?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Restaurant searches: adding \"near me\" changes the Google map pack 83.5% of the time, followed by plumber searches at 79.7%. Pest control searches change least, at 29.1%." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does \"near me\" change results more in big cities?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. Adding \"near me\" changes the Google map pack in 60.7% of large-city searches, against 50.9% of small-town searches." } } ] } ] } ] ```