Local pack
By the Pickgap team · Updated Oct 15, 2026 · 1 min read
The local pack, also called the map pack, is the box of usually three businesses with a map that Google shows for searches with local intent, like 'plumber near me'. Google ranks it on relevance, distance and prominence, using Business Profile data. Its data overlaps with what Google's AI surfaces use for local questions.
How it works
When a search has local intent, Google shows a map with a short list of businesses, each with its rating, reviews, hours and a link to its profile. Google says local results depend on:
- Relevance: how well the business matches the search.
- Distance: how far it is from the searcher or the location in the query.
- Prominence: how well known it is, including reviews, links and mentions.
The local pack and AI search
AI Overviews often appear alongside or above the local pack for local questions, and AI Mode and Gemini show place results drawn from the same Business Profile data. Strong local pack performance usually means Google's AI has good data about you, but the AI's written answer may still name different businesses, especially for detailed questions.
Outside Google, the local pack doesn't apply: ChatGPT and Perplexity rely on other sources.
How to get in
Complete your Business Profile, earn reviews, keep details consistent and build local mentions. See local SEO for AI search.