Current Google Business Profile help says local results are mainly based on distance.

Cited by documentation

Sources

• Tips to improve your local ranking on Google

  Google Business Profile Help · primary source · retrieved 2026-08-21

  “Local results are mainly based on relevance, distance, and popularity. Together, these factors help Google find the best match for customers’ searches.” — Understand factors that determine local ranking

• Are Relevance, Distance, & Prominence Google Ranking Factors?

  Search Engine Journal · retrieved 2026-08-21

  “Local results are based primarily on relevance, distance, and prominence.” — Paragraph quoting the Google Business Profile Help Center

• 3 Biggest Factors to Top Google Local Ranking

  Wit Digital · retrieved 2026-08-21

  “a business that's farther away from your location is more likely” — Blockquote of Google help text, farther-business example

• Google Business Profile SEO: How to Rank

  The Digital Marketing Consultants · retrieved 2026-08-21

  “local results are based primarily on three factors” — Opening section on Google's documentation (May 2026)

• Google Maps Ranking: How to Rank #1 in Local Search

  Maplift · retrieved 2026-08-21

  “These factors are combined to help find the best match” — Section citing Google's official support documentation (Jan 2026)

• How GBP Impacts Local Rankings (2026)

  MB Adv Agency · retrieved 2026-08-21

  “Google documents exactly three local ranking factors — relevance, distance, and prominence.” — GBP & Local Rankings 2026

Related claims

• REPEATSGoogle said in 2010 that distance was a primary signal in local search ranking.Under evaluation