Heading checker
Enter a page address to see its headings as an indented outline, the way search engines and screen readers read them, with a plain list of anything to fix.
- No cost
- No sign-up
- No email
- No Google sign-in
- No subscription
- No limits for normal use
What the heading checker tests
The H1
Whether the page has one H1, whether it's empty or hidden, how long it is, and whether it says something different from the page title.
The outline
Every H1 to H6 in order, indented by level, so you can see at a glance if the page reads like a well-organised document.
Structure problems
Skipped levels (an H2 followed by an H4), empty headings, headings hidden from view, and headings used only to make text big.
Do headings matter for SEO?
Yes, in two ways. Google reads headings to understand what each part of a page covers, and a clear H1 that matches what people search for is one of the simplest on-page signals you control. Headings also matter to visitors: most people scan a page before reading it, and a good set of H2s lets them find their answer fast, which keeps them on your site. AI assistants lean on headings too when they pick a passage to quote.
What a good heading structure looks like
- One H1 that says what the page is about, ideally with the main search phrase: "Emergency plumber in Blackpool", not "Welcome".
- H2s for each main section, written the way people search: "How much does a boiler service cost?"
- H3s inside H2s for sub-points, and so on. Don't jump from H2 to H4 to make text smaller; change the size with styling instead.
- No headings for decoration. Phone numbers, "Read more" and footer titles are better as normal text.
How to fix the problems it finds
In WordPress, Wix, Squarespace and most builders you choose the heading level from the text style menu, separately from the size. Change the level there and adjust the look in your theme settings. If your theme makes the logo or site name an H1 on every page, ask your developer to change it so each page's own title is the H1. Then check the title and description too with our title tag checker.
What it can't check
We read the page's HTML as it arrives, so headings added later by JavaScript may be missing. We flag headings marked hidden in the HTML, but can't see ones hidden by a stylesheet.
Frequently asked questions
Is the heading checker free?
Yes. No sign-up, no email and no subscription, with only a fair-use limit to stop bots.
Can a page have more than one H1?
It's allowed and Google says it copes, but one clear H1 is still best practice. It makes the page's topic obvious to search engines, screen readers and visitors.
Should the H1 be the same as the title tag?
They can be the same or close. The title tag is written for the search results; the H1 greets people on the page. Both should cover the same topic.
How long should an H1 be?
Short enough to read at a glance, usually under 70 characters. Put the most important words first.
Related guides
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How to write SEO content that ranks and gets quoted by AI: pick one search per page, answer the real question first, use clear headings.
How to write title tags
How to write title tags that rank and get clicked: why Google cuts titles by pixel width, what to put first, examples and the mistakes to avoid.
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Want the fixes done for you? XKey is made by IceWork, a web studio in Blackpool. IceWork builds fast, search-ready websites – a 3-page site including domain and a year's hosting is £350 all in.