Visits where the user left without interacting with the page.
Total number of sessions starting on this page.
0.00%
How to Calculate Bounce Rate in Google Analytics
Understanding user behavior is critical for website optimization. One of the most discussed metrics in web analytics is the Bounce Rate. While Google Analytics 4 (GA4) has shifted focus toward "Engagement Rate," understanding the classic Bounce Rate calculation remains vital for auditing historical data and analyzing specific landing page performance.
The Bounce Rate Formula
The mathematical formula for calculating bounce rate is straightforward. It represents the percentage of visitors who enter the site and then leave ("bounce") rather than continuing to view other pages within the same site.
Simple landing pages, blogs, or indicates poor UX/Relevancy.
Why is My Bounce Rate High?
If your calculator result shows a high bounce rate (e.g., above 70%), consider these common causes:
Slow Page Load Speed: If the page takes more than 3 seconds to load, users often leave immediately.
Misleading Title or Meta Description: The content didn't match the user's search intent.
Poor Mobile Optimization: The site is difficult to navigate on a phone.
Intrusive Pop-ups: Ads or modals that block content immediately upon entry.
Single-Page Intent: Sometimes a high bounce rate is fine (e.g., a "Contact Us" page or a blog post where the user gets the answer and leaves happy).
Universal Analytics (UA) vs. GA4
It is important to note that Google Analytics 4 (GA4) does not calculate Bounce Rate in the same way as Universal Analytics. In GA4, Bounce Rate is essentially the inverse of Engagement Rate.
An "Engaged Session" in GA4 is a session that lasts longer than 10 seconds, has a conversion event, or has at least 2 pageviews. Therefore:
GA4 Bounce Rate = 100% – Engagement Rate
function calculateBounceRate() {
// Get input values
var bouncesInput = document.getElementById('singlePageSessions');
var entriesInput = document.getElementById('totalEntries');
var resultBox = document.getElementById('brResult');
var valueDisplay = document.getElementById('brValueDisplay');
var interpretationDisplay = document.getElementById('brInterpretation');
var errorDisplay = document.getElementById('brError');
// Parse values
var bounces = parseFloat(bouncesInput.value);
var entries = parseFloat(entriesInput.value);
// Reset display
errorDisplay.style.display = 'none';
resultBox.style.display = 'none';
// Validation Logic
if (isNaN(bounces) || isNaN(entries)) {
errorDisplay.innerText = "Please enter valid numbers for both fields.";
errorDisplay.style.display = 'block';
return;
}
if (entries === 0) {
errorDisplay.innerText = "Total Entries cannot be zero.";
errorDisplay.style.display = 'block';
return;
}
if (bounces < 0 || entries entries) {
errorDisplay.innerText = "Bounces cannot be greater than Total Entries.";
errorDisplay.style.display = 'block';
return;
}
// Calculation
var bounceRate = (bounces / entries) * 100;
var formattedRate = bounceRate.toFixed(2);
// Interpretation Logic
var message = "";
var color = "#4285F4"; // Default Google Blue
if (bounceRate < 20) {
message = "Suspiciously Low: This often indicates a tracking error (like double-firing tags) rather than amazing engagement. Check your analytics setup.";
color = "#d32f2f"; // Red warning
} else if (bounceRate >= 20 && bounceRate <= 40) {
message = "Excellent: Your page is highly engaging. Users are exploring deeper into your site.";
color = "#0f9d58"; // Green
} else if (bounceRate > 40 && bounceRate <= 55) {
message = "Average: This is a standard performance for most content and e-commerce sites.";
color = "#F4B400"; // Yellow/Orange
} else if (bounceRate > 55 && bounceRate <= 70) {
message = "Higher than Average: This is typical for blogs or news sites, but you might want to look at improving internal linking.";
color = "#e37400"; // Darker Orange
} else {
message = "High: Unless this is a single-page landing site or a dictionary definition, users are leaving quickly. Check page speed, mobile responsiveness, and content relevance.";
color = "#d32f2f"; // Red
}
// Output Result
valueDisplay.innerHTML = formattedRate + "%";
valueDisplay.style.color = color;
interpretationDisplay.innerHTML = message;
resultBox.style.display = 'block';
resultBox.style.borderLeftColor = color;
}