How to see absolute search volume (real number of searches) in Google Trends
Google Trends is a powerful tool for understanding search interest, but it doesn't show absolute volume (the real number of searches) by default.
To view actual search volume numbers in Google Trends, you'll need to install the Glimpse Chrome extension, which adds the absolute search volume, growth rate, and other useful insights.
This can help us quickly grasp a topic's size and rate of growth, therefore making better-informed decisions than the standard Google Trends data would allow.
If you'd prefer not to download the Glimpse extension, then read below to understand Google's use of normalized search interest.
What does 0-100 mean in Google Trends?
Google Trends displays relative search volume on a 0-100 scale, where “100” represents the peak search interest for a keyword, and all other values reflect interest relative to that peak.
For example, in the graph below, “Bitcoin” reached maximum interest (100) during the week of May 16, 2021. A month later, interest dropped to 38, indicating search volume was only 38% of the May peak. Last week, interest was at 17, or 17% of the peak.
While this relative scale is helpful for visualizing changes in interest, it doesn’t show the actual number of searches. The Glimpse Chrome extension enhances Google Trends by displaying absolute search volume. For instance, the “100” peak for “Bitcoin” translates to 147 million searches worldwide between May 8–June 4, 2021:
What does "search interest" mean in Google Trends mean?
Google uses the term "search interest" instead of "search volume" because the default Y-axis shows normalized (0-100) volume rather than the real number of searches. This relative scale allows for simple comparison of search trends over time, but limits our understanding of a trend's true size.
To see the real number of searches for a keyword, simply use the Glimpse Chrome extension, which enhances Google Trends with absolute monthly search volume and other useful insights.
What is the Y-axis on Google Trends?
The Y axis on Google Trends shows a keyword's search interest on a 0-100 (normalized) scale. 100 represents the maximum search interest for the keyword in the selected time frame, while 50 represents half of that peak, and 0 indicates insufficient data.
To translate the Y-axis on Google Trends from relative search interest to absolute volume, use Glimpse: a Chrome extension that enhances Google Trends by providing the real number of monthly searches and other useful insights.