'Best' search top-5 pages by Google position
| Position | Pages | % listicle | % 'best' in title | % 2026 in title | % number in title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | 378 | 27.2% | 58.2% | 22.5% | 45.8% |
| #2 | 417 | 30.2% | 61.6% | 23.5% | 48.2% |
| #3 | 388 | 24.7% | 54.9% | 17.3% | 39.4% |
| #4 | 416 | 20.4% | 59.9% | 14.9% | 34.6% |
| #5 | 405 | 23.5% | 55.8% | 13.8% | 41.7% |
| All top 5 | 2,004 | 25.2% | 58.1% | 18.4% | 41.9% |
Source: PageSpeed Matters, Oct 2026. Listicle means 5 or more numbered H2 or H3 headings or a count-style number in the title.
Summary
Searches that start with "best" are some of the most valuable on the web, and the pages that rank for them often look alike: a number, the word "best" and the current year in the title, then a numbered list of picks. We wanted to see how much of that pattern holds up in the actual top 5.
Less than you might think. Of 2,004 top-5 pages for 665 "best" searches, 25.2% are listicles, rising to 27.2% at #1. The title formula is more common than the format: 58.1% of these pages put "best" in the title, while only 18.4% name the year.
What we measured
We took the top 5 organic Google US results for 671 keywords that start with "best", then loaded each page in October 2026 and read its title and headings. 2,004 pages across 665 of those keywords loaded with a non-empty title and form the sample.
A page counts as a listicle when it has 5 or more numbered H2 or H3 headings, or a count-style number in the title such as "7 best" or "top 10". With a looser 3-heading threshold, the listicle share rises to 26.5%.
For the platform split we checked each site's homepage for WordPress. 874 pages on sites whose homepage could not be checked are left out of that split. The sample covers 665 keywords, so read the smaller groups as directional.
A quarter of 'best' results are listicles
25.2% of the 2,004 top-5 pages are listicles, and the share is 27.2% at #1. Three in four pages that rank for a "best" search use some other format, likely product and category pages, single reviews or guides without numbered picks.
Listicles are most common at #2, not #1. 30.2% of 417 #2 pages are listicles, against 27.2% of 378 at #1 and 20.4% of 416 at #4. The share moves up and down across the top 5 rather than falling steadily, so position alone says little about whether a listicle is the right format.
25.2%
Share of the 2,004 top-5 pages for 665 'best' searches that are listicles.
Titles lean on 'best', numbers and the year
The title formula is far more common than the listicle format. 58.1% of these pages put "best" in the title, 41.9% include a number and 18.4% include the year 2026.
Listicles are more likely to carry the year. 24.6% of 505 listicles show 2026 in the title, against 16.3% of 1,499 other pages. That fits how these lists are usually maintained: a ranked list of picks goes out of date, and the year in the title tells searchers the list was reviewed recently.
Dated titles cluster at the top
The year shows up most often in the highest positions. 22.5% of #1 pages and 23.5% of #2 pages carry 2026 in the title. That falls to 17.3% at #3, 14.9% at #4 and 13.8% of 405 pages at #5.
This is a pattern in what ranks, not proof that the year lifts a page. Pages that show the year may simply be the ones that are updated most, and frequent updates may matter more than the year itself. A year in the title that does not match the content can also look stale or misleading to searchers.
WordPress pages lean hardest on title formulas
Among pages where we could identify the platform, WordPress pages use the formula most. 84.4% of 392 WordPress pages put "best" in the title and 46.4% include the year. On 723 pages on other identified platforms, those shares are 54.6% and 19.4%.
The gap likely reflects what WordPress sites publish for these searches. WordPress is a common home for editorial review sites and blogs, which often write buying guides with "best" and the year in the headline. Store and brand sites, which more often rank with product or category pages, use the formula less.
What this means for your site
Match the format to what already ranks for your exact query, not to the general idea of a "best" page. If the top 5 is mostly product and category pages, a listicle may not fit. If it is mostly ranked lists, a single review will have a hard time.
- Check the current top 5 for each target "best" keyword before you choose a format.
- Use "best" and a count in the title only when the page is a real ranked list.
- Add the year only if you update the list every year, and update the content, not just the title.
- Give each pick its own numbered heading, so readers and crawlers can see the structure of the list.
Sources
- PageSpeed Matters analysis of Google US top 5 organic results for 671 "best" keywords, October 2026
- Google Search Central, influencing your title links in search results: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/title-link
Embed this research
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<p style="font:14px/1.5 system-ui,sans-serif">Source: <a href="https://www.pagespeedmatters.com/resources/data-studies/best-search-results-listicles">'Best' Search Results 2026: 25.2% Are Listicles - PageSpeed Matters</a></p>
Frequently asked questions
What percentage of 'best' search results are listicles?
25.2% of 2,004 top-5 pages for 665 'best' searches are listicles, rising to 27.2% at #1. Listicles peak at #2, where 30.2% of pages are lists.
Should I put the year in my 'best' page title?
Only if you keep the page current. 22.5% of #1 pages and 23.5% of #2 pages carry 2026 in the title, against 13.8% at #5, but this is a pattern in what ranks rather than proof the year helps.
How many 'best' results put 'best' in the title?
58.1% of top-5 pages for 'best' searches put 'best' in the title, 41.9% include a number and 18.4% include the year 2026.
Choosing the right page format and title for a 'best' query is a quick decision once you look at what already ranks. Need help with this? See our on-page SEO services.