Understanding Index Coverage
How we calculate. Index coverage % = (indexed ÷ submitted or known URLs) × 100. See our methodology and accuracy policy .
Real-world scenario: A typical Index Coverage case uses indexed pages 4200 and total known / submitted pages 5000. Enter the same figures below to reproduce the worked path.
What is Index Coverage?
A technical SEO health signal. Low coverage can mean noindex, canonical conflicts, crawl budget issues, or quality exclusions.
- Define the denominator (sitemap URLs vs Discovery)
- Valid indexed ≠ ranking
- Investigate exclusions in Search Console
The Formula
Worked Example
Common Use Cases
- Site migrations: track re-indexing
- Large catalogs: crawl/index health
- QA launches: confirm new sections indexed
Pro Tips
- Split by template type
- Fix soft 404s and duplicates first
- Don’t force-index thin URLs
| Scenario | When to use |
|---|---|
| Percent of a number | Finding a part of a whole (tax, tip, score) |
| Percent change | Comparing old vs new values |
Limitations: Index Coverage results are educational SEO planning aids—not guarantees of rankings or traffic. Search algorithms and attribution models vary.
Common mistakes
- Swapping part and whole: The denominator must be the full total, not a subset.
- Rounding too early: Carry extra decimal places through multi-step work before rounding the final percent.
- Mixing percent and decimal forms: Enter rates in the format the calculator labels expect.
The worked example for index coverage was verified with the calculator form on this page—enter the same values to confirm the result.
When to use this calculator
- Use this page when your wording matches index coverage and the form labels on screen.
- Use percent of a number for “what is X% of Y?” problems.
- Use number is what percent when you know part and whole and need the percent.
Still unsure about index coverage? Start with the quick answer above, then open the linked calculator that matches your wording.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How do I use this index coverage calculator?
For index coverage, enter the values labeled on the form, then press Calculate. Compare the result to the worked example on this page.
What formula does this page use?
See the quick answer and formula box above for index coverage—the same percentage calculator expression is applied to your inputs.
What if my result looks wrong?
When checking index coverage, re-check part vs whole (or rate vs base), rounding, and whether percents were entered as 25 rather than 0.25 when the form expects percents.
Authoritative References
For search and analytics guidance, consult:
- Google Search Central — crawling, indexing, and ranking documentation
- W3C — web standards that affect crawlable HTML
- Google Analytics Help — engagement and traffic metrics