Guides · Checked November 12, 2026
What is a local search grid (geogrid rank tracking)?
The short answer
A local search grid is a map of colored circles that shows where your business ranks on Google Maps from many points around it. A tool, such as a local scan, runs the same search at each point and marks your position. It is also called geogrid rank tracking, and it replaces one number with a picture.
The short version
A local search grid lays a square of points over a map, centered on your business. For each point, the tool asks Google Maps what a person standing there would see for your keyword. It then finds you in the results and colors the point by your position.
That is a local scan. Tools call the method geogrid rank tracking, geo-grid scans or a local ranking grid. They all do the same thing.
Why one ranking number misleads
Google Maps has no single ranking for "plumber". Results change with the searcher's location, so you may be first to a customer near your door and invisible to one a mile out. A rank number from one spot hides that.
A grid shows it. You see your strong streets, your weak streets and who holds the weak ones.
How to read the colors
| Color | Position | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Green | 1 to 3 | You show in the block of results people tap most |
| Amber | 4 to 10 | You are on the first page but below the top |
| Orange | 11 to 20 | Customers have to scroll to find you |
| Red | Not in the first 20 | A customer at this spot is unlikely to see you |
What a grid is made of
A grid has three settings. Size is the number of points, such as 5 by 5 for 25 or 7 by 7 for 49. Spacing is the distance between points. Keyword is the search being tested.
Spacing should match how your customers travel. A walk-in shop cares about half-mile steps. A plumber who drives to customers should use wider steps, such as two miles. Pin & Stars offers both choices on its free local rank checker.
What to look for in your first grid
- A green core near your door that fades to red at the edges is normal.
- Red holes inside the core mean a rival beats you on your own streets.
- A lopsided shape often points at a strong competitor on the red side.
- Check who holds the top three at red points, then look at their profiles.
How accurate is a grid?
A grid is a clean reading with no search history. Your own phone adds history, time of day and exact position, so small differences are normal. Treat a grid as a trend tool. Scan the same keyword on the same settings each week and compare, instead of arguing with one circle.
Where to go next
If you want the steps to run a scan, read how to check your Google Maps ranking. If you want to turn the red areas green, read how to rank higher on Google Maps. To compare the tools that draw grids, see best local rank trackers.