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Scroll Depth

Definition

Scroll Depth measures how far users scroll down a webpage or piece of digital content. It provides insight into how much of the content users engage with and whether they reach critical sections, such as calls to action (CTAs) or key information.

Description

Scroll Depth is a key indicator of content engagement and UX clarity, tracking how far down a page users scroll—giving insight into where attention holds and where it drops.

Its relevance shifts by content type:

  • On landing pages, it reflects interest in your offer and CTA effectiveness.
  • On blog posts or help docs, it shows whether users stay engaged or bounce early.
  • On product pages, it can reveal whether users explore feature breakdowns or pricing details.

A high Scroll Depth means users are engaged, while a low depth may signal layout fatigue, unclear structure, or unconvincing messaging. By segmenting scroll data by page type, traffic source, or device, you can uncover drop-off patterns and test changes to content placement or format.

Scroll Depth informs:

  • Strategic decisions, like content length, format, and visual hierarchy
  • Tactical actions, such as repositioning CTAs or breaking up long sections
  • Operational improvements, including analytics setup and heatmap tooling
  • Cross-functional alignment, between content, design, and growth teams to optimize conversion flows

Key Drivers

These are the main factors that directly impact the metric. Understanding these lets you know what levers you can pull to improve the outcome

  • Page Layout and Visual Hierarchy: Poor structure = user fatigue = early exits.
  • Content Length and Relevance: Long pages only work if they’re really valuable.
  • Above-the-Fold Hook: If the headline doesn’t grab them, they’ll never scroll.

Improvement Tactics & Quick Wins

Actionable ideas to optimize this KPI, from fast, low-effort wins to strategic initiatives that drive measurable impact.

  • If scroll depth is low, A/B test headline variants with a stronger value prop or question.
  • Add jump links or sticky nav to help users explore more quickly.
  • Run heatmap tracking to see where interest drops — move important CTAs higher.
  • Refine visual rhythm — alternate text blocks with media, quotes, or charts.
  • Partner with content design to compress copy into more scannable, mobile-friendly formats.

  • Required Datapoints to calculate the metric

    • Page Height: The total height of the webpage or content being tracked.
    • Scroll Position: The maximum position users reach while scrolling.
    • User Sessions: The number of sessions or visits during the measurement period.

  • Example to show how the metric is derived

    A landing page aims to convert users by showcasing a CTA at the 75% scroll mark. Analytics reveal:

    • 80% of users scroll to 25%.
    • 50% of users scroll to 50%.
    • Only 20% of users scroll to 75%.

Formula

Formula

\[ \mathrm{Scroll\ Depth\ Percentage} = \left( \frac{\mathrm{Scroll\ Position}}{\mathrm{Page\ Height}} \right) \times 100 \]

Data Model Definition

How this KPI is structured in Cube.js, including its key measures, dimensions, and calculation logic for consistent reporting.

cube(`ScrollDepthMetrics`, {
  sql: `SELECT * FROM scroll_depth_metrics`,

  measures: {
    scrollDepthPercentage: {
      sql: `100.0 * scroll_position / page_height`,
      type: `number`,
      title: `Scroll Depth Percentage`,
      description: `The percentage of the page height that users have scrolled through.`
    },
    totalUserSessions: {
      sql: `user_sessions`,
      type: `sum`,
      title: `Total User Sessions`,
      description: `The total number of user sessions during the measurement period.`
    }
  },

  dimensions: {
    id: {
      sql: `id`,
      type: `string`,
      primaryKey: true,
      title: `ID`,
      description: `Unique identifier for each scroll depth record.`
    },
    pageHeight: {
      sql: `page_height`,
      type: `number`,
      title: `Page Height`,
      description: `The total height of the webpage or content being tracked.`
    },
    scrollPosition: {
      sql: `scroll_position`,
      type: `number`,
      title: `Scroll Position`,
      description: `The maximum position users reach while scrolling.`
    },
    eventTime: {
      sql: `event_time`,
      type: `time`,
      title: `Event Time`,
      description: `The time when the scroll event was recorded.`
    }
  }
});

Note: This is a reference implementation and should be used as a starting point. You’ll need to adapt it to match your own data model and schema

Positive & Negative Influences

  • Negative influences

    Factors that drive the metric in an undesirable direction, often signaling risk or decline.

    • Page Load Time: Longer load times can frustrate users, leading to early exits and reduced scroll depth.
    • Content Length: Excessively long content without clear value can cause users to disengage before reaching the end.
    • Ad Intrusiveness: Intrusive ads can disrupt the user experience, causing users to leave the page early.
    • Poor Mobile Optimization: If a page is not optimized for mobile, users may find it difficult to navigate, reducing scroll depth.
    • Complex Navigation: Complicated navigation can confuse users, leading to early exits and less scrolling.

  • Positive influences

    Factors that push the metric in a favorable direction, supporting growth or improvement.

    • Engaging Above-the-Fold Content: Compelling headlines and visuals above the fold can encourage users to scroll further.
    • Clear Visual Hierarchy: A well-structured page guides users naturally through the content, increasing scroll depth.
    • Relevant Content: Content that meets user needs and interests encourages deeper engagement and scrolling.
    • Interactive Elements: Interactive features like videos or quizzes can engage users and encourage them to explore more.
    • Effective CTAs: Strategically placed calls to action can motivate users to scroll to specific sections of the page.

Involved Roles & Activities

Funnel Stage & Type

  • AAARRR Funnel Stage

    This KPI is associated with the following stages in the AAARRR (Pirate Metrics) funnel:

    Awareness

  • Type

    This KPI is classified as a Lagging Indicator. It reflects the results of past actions or behaviors and is used to validate performance or assess the impact of previous strategies.

Supporting Leading & Lagging Metrics

  • Leading

    These leading indicators influence this KPI and act as early signals that forecast future changes in this KPI.

    • Content Engagement: Content Engagement is a direct precursor and contextualizer for Scroll Depth, as it captures the broader set of actions (clicks, time spent, interactions) that indicate user interest in content. High content engagement often predicts deeper scroll behavior, while low engagement can signal superficial scrolling or early exits.
    • Time on Page: Time on Page measures how long users remain on a specific page and often correlates with how far they scroll. Longer time on page provides more opportunity for users to scroll deeper, making it a strong contextual signal for interpreting Scroll Depth.
    • Unique Page Views: Unique Page Views quantifies the reach and exposure of a page. High unique views with low scroll depth may signal poor content structure or unmet expectations, while increasing both can indicate content resonance and effective funnel entry.
    • Drop-Off Rate: Drop-Off Rate identifies where users abandon a page or process. When analyzed alongside Scroll Depth, it helps pinpoint at which scroll threshold engagement drops, enabling optimization of content placement and calls to action.
    • Session Length: Session Length aggregates total time spent across a user’s visit, providing context for Scroll Depth by indicating whether deep scrolling is part of broader engagement or isolated to a single page.

  • Lagging

    These lagging indicators confirm, quantify, or amplify this KPI and help explain the broader business impact on this KPI after the fact.

    • Conversion Rate: Conversion Rate is a key downstream metric often influenced by how deeply users engage with content (as measured by Scroll Depth). If users reach CTAs or forms placed deeper in the content, higher Scroll Depth typically forecasts improved conversion performance.
    • Bounce Rate: Bounce Rate reflects the percentage of users who leave after viewing a single page. Low scroll depth is a leading indicator of high bounce, so analyzing Scroll Depth trends can help identify causes and reduce bounce post-hoc.
    • Exit Rate: Exit Rate on a page is often explained by Scroll Depth patterns: if users consistently exit before reaching key sections, it signals that those sections are not compelling or visible enough. Scroll Depth data can help interpret and act on Exit Rate spikes.
    • Engaged Unique Visitors: Engaged Unique Visitors quantifies the number of users who go beyond superficial interactions. Deep scrollers are typically a subset of this group, so Scroll Depth trends help forecast and explain fluctuations in engaged visitor counts.
    • Signup Completion Rate: Signup Completion Rate is often affected by the visibility of signup forms or CTAs, which may be placed deep in the content. Scroll Depth helps explain whether users are actually reaching these conversion points, providing actionable lagging insight for funnel optimization.