How Many 5 Star Reviews to Cancel a 1 Star? (GMB, Yelp, Amazon)

You’ve probably been there… You open your business profile or product page, feeling proud of all those glowing reviews, only to see a single 1-star rating staring back at you.

Suddenly, your perfect score drops, and it feels like all your hard work is overshadowed.

If you’re wondering how many 5-star reviews it takes to undo the damage, you’re definitely not the only one asking.

How Many 5 Star Reviews Does It Take to Offset a 1 Star Review

Typically, you’ll need 4 to 40 new 5-star reviews to offset a single 1-star review, but it will depend on the platform and how many total reviews you already have.

(We know…the range is pretty far apart), but to make this answer more defined, here’s an explanation below:

Google Business Profile

Because Google uses a straightforward arithmetic average, the number of 5-star reviews needed depends entirely on your current review count and rating.

On a new listing (e.g., just one 1-star review), it could take 30–40+ five-star reviews to climb back above a 4.9 average.
For established listings, most data suggests 10–20 high-quality 5-star reviews can neutralize a single 1-star—especially if you're already around 4.5–4.8.

Yelp

Yelp uses a Bayesian weighted average with an opaque algorithm—so precise math isn’t possible.

Reputation management experts suggest you’ll typically need 10–20 genuine 5-star reviews to meaningfully counteract a bad one.
Some marketing pros even estimate 12 positive reviews can rebalance sentiment after a negative hit.

Amazon

Amazon applies a machine‑learning weighted average, prioritizing verified purchases and recency—hidden behind the scenes.

In experiments shared by sellers: if you have one 1-star and one 5-star (50%), you’d need 4 five-star reviews to reach ~80%, and 9 to approach ~90%—but the impact diminishes with each additional review.
However, Amazon never publishes a formula—this is just anecdotal, observed by tracking how ratings change over time.

Other Companies

Facebook Business Pages – usually simple averages, so 5–15 5-stars may help depending on volume.
TripAdvisor – uses proprietary weighting; anecdotal estimates range from 10–25 5-star reviews.
Etsy – averages over rolling time; expect 10+ recent 5-stars to improve your score.
App Store / Google Play – weighted by recency/helpfulness, so 15–30 new 5-stars can move the needle.
Trustpilot / Sitejabber – mix of verified/unverified; typically 10–20 strong reviews help offset one bad one.

But to be clear, smaller accounts may see big jumps with just a few positive ratings, while established profiles often require 10–30 or more to recover.

Why Don’t These Companies Explain How Many 5-Star Reviews You Need to Offset a 1-Star?

Now, you might be wondering... why won’t companies like Yelp, Amazon, and Google provide a clear answer for this?

The reason is that each platform uses its own rating system.

Some rely on simple averages, while others apply complex algorithms that weigh factors like review recency, verified purchase status, and how trustworthy the reviewer seems.

For example, Yelp and Amazon both use proprietary models that can filter or discount certain reviews behind the scenes... so even the platform itself can’t predict exactly how much a new review will impact your score in real time.

Because these formulas are designed to prevent manipulation and fake reviews, companies intentionally keep the details private... and avoid publishing step-by-step guides or fixed numbers.

That’s why you won’t find an official calculator or a universal rule anywhere.

What You Can Do Instead of Guessing How Many 5-Star Reviews You Need

Even though there’s no exact number that guarantees your rating will bounce back, you still have plenty of control over how people see your business.

Here are some clear, effective tips you can start using right away.

Ask Happy Customers Promptly

Reach out to satisfied customers soon after they’ve interacted with you and kindly invite them to share honest feedback.

People are far more likely to leave a positive review when the experience is fresh in their mind, especially if you know how to ask in a way that feels genuine and easy.

Respond to Reviews Thoughtfully

Reply to negative reviews calmly and professionally.

Thank the reviewer for sharing their thoughts, and, if it makes sense, explain how you’re improving, even in cases where someone leaves a low rating without any written comments.

Make Leaving Reviews Simple

Use clear email links, QR codes, or follow-up messages that guide customers straight to your review page... the fewer clicks it takes, the more likely someone will follow through.

Having the right tools to collect and display reviews can make this process feel effortless.

Stay Consistent Instead of Chasing Quick Fixes

A sudden burst of 5-star reviews can help a little, but the most reliable way to improve your score is a steady flow of genuine, positive feedback.

Over time, consistency shows your reputation isn’t just a lucky streak, and timing your requests well can make all the difference.

Highlight Positive Reviews Everywhere

Share your best reviews on your website, social channels, and marketing materials.

Even if your average rating doesn’t change overnight, showcasing great feedback reinforces trust with new customers and can lead to more referrals naturally.

Is It Important to Offset Your 1-Star With More 5-Star Reviews?

Try not to get too caught up in having a perfect 5.0 rating.

Honestly, when every review is glowing, it can start to feel a little suspicious... like someone tried too hard to make everything look flawless.

No business gets it right for everyone. Even in an amazing restaurant, one person might say the food needs more spice, while someone else thinks it is way too much.

A mix of opinions is completely normal and shows you are real.

Conclusion

If you’re thinking about your next steps, I’d encourage you to keep building trust the right way.

Feel free to explore our blog for more insights, like how to handle fake 1-star Google reviews or responding to reviews without comments.

And if you ever want to simplify how you collect, track, and showcase your reviews, you can always take a look at our tools, referral features, or insights dashboard.

Wishing you the best of luck as you keep improving your reputation. If you’d like help or just want to chat about ideas, you can always reach us here.

FAQs

Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Reach out to our customer support team.

Can I remove a 1-star review instead of offsetting it?

You usually can’t remove a review just because it’s negative. However, you can report it if it breaks platform rules, like containing threats, hate speech, or spam, and you can learn more about handling tricky situations in our guide on dealing with bad reviews.

Should I offer discounts or incentives for 5-star reviews?

No—most platforms strictly forbid offering incentives in exchange for reviews. Doing so can lead to having your listing suspended or your reviews removed, which is one of the common reputation management mistakes we see businesses make.

How fast will new 5-star reviews update my average rating?

On Google, your average updates almost immediately. Yelp and Amazon may take days or weeks because they filter and weigh reviews before showing changes, as we explain in more detail in our article about how much a bad review can cost.

Does responding to reviews improve my star rating?

Replies don’t directly change your rating. But they help build trust with future customers who read how you handle feedback, which is why we always recommend responding carefully to negative reviews.

Can too many reviews at once look suspicious?

Yes—a sudden spike in positive reviews can trigger filters or moderation. It’s better to collect them gradually over time and keep an eye on your activity through our insights dashboard.