Where our CTR benchmarks come from
The click-through-rate averages behind every SEOMathLab forecast — sources, dates and limitations.
Every SEOMathLab calculator that models traffic from rankings uses the same set of click-through-rate (CTR) benchmarks. This page documents exactly what they are, where they came from, and when they were last reviewed.
The benchmark table
| Position bucket | Average CTR used |
|---|---|
| 1–3 | 18.1% |
| 4–7 | 5.9% |
| 8–10 | 3.0% |
| 11–20 | 1.2% |
| 21–50 | 0.4% |
| 50+ | 0.05% |
Sources
These figures are composite averages compiled from published large-scale CTR studies, principally the FirstPageSage Google CTR report and the Advanced Web Ranking CTR study, cross-checked against each other. They represent US desktop-and-mobile blended averages across mixed query intent.
Review policy
Benchmarks are reviewed quarterly in the admin dashboard. Each value carries a checked date and source note. If a new study materially changes an average, the value is updated and the checked date moves — calculator defaults update with it.
Limitations
- Real CTR varies enormously by intent (navigational queries skew higher), SERP features (ads, AI overviews and featured snippets take clicks), brand strength and device.
- If you have your own Google Search Console data, use it: every Pro input on our calculators lets you override the defaults.
- These are planning inputs, not predictions of your CTR.
Last updated: 2026-10-10