About the HTML Headings Checker
Headings give a page its outline. Search engines use them to understand what a page covers, and screen reader users jump between them to navigate. A good structure has one h1 for the page title, h2 headings for main sections and h3 to h6 for subsections, without skipping levels. This checker reads the HTML you paste, extracts every h1 to h6 heading, shows them as an indented outline and lists problems: a missing h1, more than one h1, a skipped level such as h2 followed by h4, empty headings, very long headings and repeated text. It ignores comments and scripts, and the code never leaves your browser.
Updated October 2026
How to use the HTML Headings Checker
- 1Open your page's source and copy the HTML, or paste only the part you want to check.
- 2Paste it into the left box.
- 3Read the outline of headings on the right.
- 4Check the list of errors and warnings below it.
- 5Fix the headings in your page and paste again.
What a good outline looks like
Imagine a guide to hiking boots. The h1 is Best Hiking Boots. The main sections, such as How to choose and Top picks, are h2 headings. Under Top picks, a subsection for Budget boots is an h3. Reading only the headings should give a fair summary of the page, with no gaps or missing parents.
Common mistakes
- Using a heading tag just to make text big or bold.
- Putting the logo or site name in an h1 on every page.
- Several h1 headings from a theme and a page builder.
- Skipping from h2 to h4 because of the default font size.
- Using the same heading text on many sections.
How to fix problems
Change the tag level, not the look: choose the right heading level for the structure, then adjust the style with CSS. Rename duplicate headings so that each says something specific. Remove empty tags and shorten long headings by moving detail into the paragraph beneath. Check again after each change to see the outline settle.
Related SEO tools
The HTML SEO Checker looks at titles, descriptions and other tags, the SERP Snippet Preview shows how a result may appear, the Meta Tag Generator builds tags for you and the Keyword Density Checker examines text. The Readability Score Checker helps with the writing itself.
Features
- Outline of h1 to h6 headings
- Detects missing and multiple h1
- Finds skipped heading levels
- Flags empty and over-long headings
- Spots repeated headings
- Ignores comments and script code
Frequently asked questions
How many h1 headings should a page have?
One. HTML5 technically allows more, but a single h1 that describes the whole page is the clearest signal for search engines and screen readers, and it is the standard advice in SEO and accessibility guides.
Why does skipping heading levels matter?
Going from an h2 straight to an h4 leaves a gap in the outline and confuses people who navigate by heading. Use headings for structure, not size, and style them with CSS if you want a different look.
How long should a heading be?
Short enough to scan. For h1 and title-style headings, about 20 to 70 characters is typical. The checker warns above 70 characters because long headings are harder to read and may be cut in search results.
Does heading structure affect SEO?
Headings are one of several signals that help search engines understand a page. Using clear, descriptive headings with natural wording helps both ranking and readers. Stuffing keywords into headings does not.
Can I check a live URL?
This tool works on HTML you paste. Use your browser's View Source (or Inspect) to copy a page's code, then paste it. That way, the tool also works for pages that need a login.
What does an empty heading mean?
It is a heading tag with no text, often caused by an image or icon inside it with no alt text, or a leftover from a template. Screen readers announce it as an empty heading, which is confusing, so remove it or add text.