Google Maps for roofers: what gets you into the top 3
Roof replacement is one of the biggest purchases a homeowner makes, and "roofers near me" gets about 85,000 US searches a month. Here's what the roofers Google put in the map's top 3 had in common across Central Florida.
Roofers who reached the top 3 in our searches had a median of about 41 Google reviews and 36 photos, against 26 reviews and 23 photos for the rest. 94% used Roofing contractor as the primary category, against 74% of the rest. The gaps are smaller than in most trades, so the right category and steady reviews go a long way.
What customers type into Google
US searches a month, from Ahrefs. Every one of these shows a map with three businesses at the top.
| Search | Searches a month (US) |
|---|---|
| roof replacement | 106,000 |
| roofers near me | 85,000 |
| metal roofing | 60,000 |
| roofing contractor | 56,000 |
| roof repair | 54,000 |
| roof inspection | 24,000 |
What the top 3 have
We ran "roofing contractor" and "roof repair" from 5 points around each of Orlando, Winter Garden, Kissimmee (30 Google Maps searches, October 27, 2026) and compared every business that reached the top 3 with the ones ranked 4 to 20.
| Top 3 | Ranked 4–20 | |
|---|---|---|
| Google reviews (median) | 41 | 26 |
| Star rating (median) | 4.9 | 5.0 |
| Photos (median) | 36 | 23 |
| Website on the listing | 90% | 88% |
| Profile claimed | 90% | 90% |
| Businesses counted | 49 | 201 |
- Roofing is closer than most trades: the top 3 had a median of about 41 reviews against 26, and 36 photos against 23.
- Websites and claimed profiles didn't separate them; about 90% of both groups had both.
- The clearest difference was the category: 94% of the top 3 used Roofing contractor as primary, against 74% of the rest, which often used broader ones like Construction company.
- Most top-3 roofers kept to one category. They didn't need a long list.
Our own searches, Central Florida. These are patterns, not guarantees: Google also weighs distance and relevance, and every area is different.
Categories the top 3 use
Primary category (the one that matters most): Roofing contractor (94% of the top 3).
All categories seen on top-3 profiles:
- Roofing contractor 94%
- Contractor 18%
- General contractor 8%
- Gutter service 6%
Only use categories for work you really do.
Five fixes, in order
- Claim and verify your profile. See is my business on Google Maps?
- Make Roofing contractor your primary category. Not Contractor or Construction company. Add Gutter service only if you really do gutters.
- Ask every finished job for a review. A dozen more reviews closes most of the gap in this trade. See how to get more Google reviews.
- Post before-and-after photos of every roof. Tear-offs, new shingles and metal, drone shots if you have them. Aim to pass 35 photos.
- Reply to every review. Homeowners spending this much read them. See how to reply to reviews.
What it costs
The scan is free. If you want us to track it every week and tell you what to do next:
- Foundation, $75/month ($50 for the first 25 businesses, for 12 months): 5 searches, weekly scan, what moved and who took your spot, full fix checklist.
- Growth, $150/month ($100 for the first 25 businesses, for 12 months): 10 searches, close-up scan, top 10 competitors with alerts, monthly PDF.
- Premium, $300/month ($200 for the first 25 businesses, for 12 months): 20 searches, 2 service areas, review replies, 4 Google posts a month, and the one thing to do each week.
Questions
How many reviews does a roofer need to rank on Google Maps?
Fewer than in most trades. In our Central Florida searches the top-3 roofers had a median of about 41. A free scan shows how far you are from the roofers above you in your own area.
Should I list General contractor as well as Roofing contractor?
Only if you do general contracting work. In our searches most top-3 roofers used Roofing contractor alone.
Do storm and insurance jobs count differently on Google Maps?
No. Google ranks your profile, not the type of job. Ask those customers for reviews like any other.