What is heading hierarchy?
Heading hierarchy is the order of H1–H6 elements on a page. The H1 is the main title (one per page). H2s are major sections, H3s subsections under H2s, and so on. Skipping levels (e.g. H2 then H4) hurts SEO and accessibility.
Why headings matter for SEO and accessibility
Search engines use headings to understand structure and topics. Screen reader users often navigate by headings. A clear, logical hierarchy improves both discoverability and usability.
Best practices for H1–H6
- Use exactly one H1 per page for the main title
- Do not skip levels (e.g. go from H2 to H4)
- Keep headings concise and descriptive
- Avoid empty headings
- Use unique heading text where possible to avoid confusion
Related tools
More SEO and content tools:
- SEO Slug Generator – Create URL-friendly slugs from titles
- SERP Preview – Preview meta title and description in search results
- Word Counter – Count words and characters
- SEO Tools – All SEO utilities