Do You Really Need to Respond to Google Reviews Within 24 Hours?

(Spoiler: No, But You Should Still Hustle)

If you own a restaurant, retail shop, or any customer-facing business, you’ve probably heard this one:

“You have to respond to Google reviews within 24 hours or your rankings will drop!”

Sounds scary, right?

Good news: That’s not how Google works.

What Google Actually Says

Google does recommend responding to reviews — because it helps build trust and shows you care about your customers. But nowhere does it say that missing a 24-hour window will hurt your visibility or search rankings.

There’s no algorithmic timer penalizing you for responding in 48 hours instead of 24.

So... Why Does Everyone Say 24 Hours?

Because 24 hours is a best practice — not a rule. Here’s why:

• It looks good to potential customers.
  Most people read reviews and responses before making a decision. If you’re on top of it, you look engaged and professional.

• It encourages more people to leave reviews.
  If folks know you’re paying attention, they’re more likely to give feedback — and that snowballs into more social proof.

• It can prevent bad reviews from festering.
  Fast replies can sometimes turn a 1-star rant into a 3-star redemption story.

What Does Hurt You

• Not responding at all.
  Google does consider “review activity” (quantity and engagement) when ranking local businesses. If your competitors are replying and you’re not, they’ll likely get a visibility boost.

• Responding like a robot.
  “Thank you for your feedback.” isn’t going to win anyone over. Make it personal, even if it's short.

• Fighting with bad reviews publicly.
  That’s a whole other blog post — but let’s just say: don’t do it.

What’s the Real Ideal Response Time?

• Within 24-48 hours is excellent.

• Under 72 hours is still solid.

• Longer than a week? You’re dropping the ball.

Pro Tip: Use Review Response Templates

You don’t have to write a heartfelt novel every time someone says your chicken parm was “just okay.” Keep a few templates on hand, tweak ‘em fast, and respond like the boss you are.

Bottom Line

No, Google won’t dock your ranking for being a little late. But consistently ignoring reviews — or treating them like an afterthought — will absolutely cost you real business over time.

Respond like you give a damn… because your future customers are watching.