Google has replaced a vague eligibility standard with hard numbers. An updated merchant help page now specifies that store ratings need close to 100 qualifying reviews and an average of at least 3.5 out of 5 stars before they can display on paid text ads and Shopping listings, per PPC News Feed.
Only reviews left within the last two years count toward that total. Google tallies the figure separately for every country, drawing solely on reviews submitted by shoppers inside that market.
That country-by-country reset carries the real operational weight here. A brand with a strong global reputation could still lose its ratings display in a market where local review volume falls short, even while ratings elsewhere stay healthy.
Advertisers running Shopping campaigns across several countries should check review counts market by market rather than trusting a single blended average, since one thin market can quietly strip the ratings extension from ads there. The update, spotted by Hana Kobzová, was reported by PPC News Feed, which linked to Google’s Merchant Center help documentation.
PPC News Feed reported the update on September 18, 2026, citing Google’s Merchant Center help documentation.
