SEO Traffic Forecasting Calculator
Project organic clicks, conversions and revenue from a keyword's search volume and target ranking, adjusted for AI Overviews and ads.
Keyword inputs
Forecast
Estimated monthly clicks
Why most SEO forecasts are wrong
The most common SEO forecasting mistake is assuming a number one ranking captures 30% to 40% of search volume as clicks. That was closer to true a decade ago. Today, with AI Overviews, ads, featured snippets, People Also Ask boxes and zero-click results, position one gets roughly 28% of clicks on a clean results page and as little as 10% to 15% when an AI Overview appears. This calculator uses current CTR benchmarks and adjusts for SERP features so your forecast reflects the search results people actually see.
SERP features take a large share of organic clicks
AI Overviews are the biggest shift in organic search in years. When one appears, clicks to the top organic result often drop by 40% to 50%, because the searcher gets the answer on the results page and never visits a website. Switch the SERP feature setting to compare your forecast with and without them.
How to use this for real forecasting
Run the forecast for each of your top 10 target keywords and add up the monthly clicks. That total is an honest organic forecast at the positions you are targeting. If you are building a business case for SEO, put this number in the spreadsheet, not a flat 30% of search volume.
Frequently asked questions
Are these CTR benchmarks accurate?
They are based on aggregated public CTR studies from 2024 and 2025 (Advanced Web Ranking, Backlinko, First Page Sage). Real CTR varies by query type, and informational queries tend to get fewer clicks than transactional ones, but these figures are a defensible default.
Why does an AI Overview cut CTR by about 45%?
The AI answer sits at the top of the page and often satisfies an informational query without a click. The drop is largest on informational queries. Transactional queries are less affected.
Which keyword volume should I use?
Use the volume from Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, Semrush or your preferred SEO tool. Different tools report different volumes for the same keyword, so average them when in doubt.