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Heading Tag Checker

Audit the H1 through H6 heading structure on any webpage to find hierarchy issues, duplicate H1s, and missing tags.

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Heading structure rules.

The checks this tool runs, and why each matters for SEO and accessibility.

Best practice

Exactly one H1

Strongest topical signal to search engines. Critical for accessibility landmark navigation.

Warning

No skipped levels

Screen readers read the outline sequentially. Skips break the mental model for users and crawlers.

Warning

No empty headings

Empty headings dilute keyword signals and confuse screen readers that announce the count.

Info

H1 at the top

The first heading should describe the page. A nested H1 suggests the template is broken.

Info

Reasonable length

Headings over 120 characters read as paragraphs. Split into a heading + a lead sentence.

Best practice

Keywords in H1 / H2

Not a direct ranking factor, but the most visible place to signal topic to Google.

What are heading tags?

Heading tags - <h1> through <h6> - are the HTML elements that define the document outline of a page. The H1 names the main topic. H2s split that topic into major sections. H3s-H6 subdivide each section further. Search engines use this outline to understand what a page is about and how its content is organized; screen readers use it as the primary way blind users navigate content.

This checker fetches any public URL, strips out navigation and script noise, and rebuilds the heading outline as the browser would render it. It flags every issue that matters for SEO and WCAG accessibility: missing H1s, multiple H1s, skipped levels, empty headings, and headings so long they read like paragraphs. Run your most important pages through it any time you ship a new template - heading regressions are one of the most common unnoticed SEO bugs after a CMS change.

Use one H1 per page

A single H1 removes ambiguity for crawlers and accessibility tools. Even though Google tolerates multiples, cleaner is always better.

Put keywords in your H1 and first H2

These are the highest-visibility locations for on-page keyword signals. Use the exact phrase your page is trying to rank for.

Keep the outline sequential

H1 → H2 → H3 → H4, never H1 → H3. If you want a smaller visual style, use CSS, not a demotion to a deeper heading tag.

Don't use headings for style only

A bolded section title inside a paragraph should be <strong>, not an H2. Save heading tags for actual section breaks in the document.

Frequently asked questions.

What are heading tags?

Heading tags - <h1> through <h6> - are HTML elements that define the outline of a page. H1 is the top-level title of the content, H2s are major sections, H3s are subsections inside H2s, and so on. A well-structured heading hierarchy helps search engines understand the topic and subtopics of a page, and is critical for screen reader users who use headings to navigate.

Should every page have exactly one H1?

Historically, yes - and it's still the safest, cleanest approach. Google has officially said that multiple H1s won't hurt your rankings, but a single H1 is still the recommended best practice because it's unambiguous for SEO, accessibility, and content parsing tools. Use one H1 to name the main topic of the page, then H2s for major sections.

What does it mean if my headings 'skip levels'?

Skipping levels means going from an H2 directly to an H4 without using an H3 in between, or jumping from an H1 to an H3. This breaks the semantic outline. Screen readers announce headings by level and users expect a predictable hierarchy. SEO crawlers also use the outline to understand content relationships, and a broken outline is a minor accessibility and SEO signal.

How long should heading tags be?

Most H1s land between 20 and 70 characters. H2s and H3s tend to be shorter (15-50). If a heading stretches past ~120 characters it usually reads like a paragraph, which hurts both scannability and SEO. Break long headings into a shorter heading plus a lead paragraph underneath.

Do heading tags affect SEO rankings?

Yes, but indirectly. Headings are not a direct ranking factor, but they're one of the clearest signals search engines use to understand what a page is about. Keywords in H1s and H2s carry more weight than in body text. A well-structured heading outline also improves dwell time, which is a strong engagement signal.

What's the difference between heading tags and bold/strong text?

A heading tag (<h1>-<h6>) has semantic meaning - it defines a section of the document. Bold text (<strong> or <b>) is purely visual emphasis inside a paragraph. Don't use bold to simulate headings: search engines and screen readers ignore the visual weight, they read the HTML. If it's a section title, use a heading tag even if you want it to look like plain text visually.

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