How to read keyword search volume, CPC, and competition
Keyword Search Volume shows four numbers for a phrase: monthly search volume, average CPC, advertiser competition, and a 12-month trend. They are estimates modelled from aggregated search data, so they will not always match a figure inside an ads account.
Monthly volume
Monthly volume is the estimated number of searches for that keyword in a typical month. A larger number means more people type the phrase. It does not say how many of those people will click your page, and it does not say whether the searches are a good fit for what you sell.
A volume of zero, or no volume at all, means we do not have a usable estimate. Check the spelling, or try a broader phrase.
Average CPC
Average CPC is the estimated average cost per click for ads on that keyword. It is a signal of what advertisers have been willing to pay, not a quote for your next campaign. Your actual cost depends on the ad, the landing page, and the auction at the time you run it.
Competition
Competition here is advertiser competition on a 0–1 scale, not a count of organic pages. A low score means fewer advertisers are bidding relative to other keywords. A high score means the auction is crowded. It is not a keyword difficulty score for ranking in organic search.
12-month trend
The trend is how search interest moved over the last 12 months. A rising line means recent months were stronger than earlier ones. Seasonal keywords often dip and recover on that chart even when the monthly volume looks healthy.
Use the numbers together
Volume tells you whether people search. CPC and competition tell you whether advertisers already pay for those searches. The trend tells you whether interest is steady. None of the four is a promise of traffic. Use them to decide which phrases are worth a closer look, then check the live results.
The same estimates are available in the Chrome extension, shown on the Google results page for the keyword you already searched.