How to check your heading structure
- Paste the HTML of a page, or just the article body. You can copy it from your CMS's HTML view or from the browser (view source).
- The headings are shown as an indented outline, exactly as a screen reader or search engine sees the structure.
- Problems are listed and highlighted in red: a missing or repeated H1, skipped levels such as H2 → H4, empty headings, very long headings and duplicates.
- Fix the issues in your content and paste again. Copy the outline to use as a table of contents or content brief.
Why headings matter
Headings are the skeleton of a page. Screen reader users jump between headings to scan content, much as sighted readers skim bold titles, so a logical hierarchy is a core accessibility requirement (WCAG success criterion 1.3.1). Search engines also use headings to understand what each section covers, and well-structured sections are more likely to be picked for featured snippets and passage ranking.
The rules are simple. Use one H1 that states the page topic. Use H2s for main sections and H3s for subsections within an H2, without skipping levels. Choose heading levels for structure, not for looks: if you want smaller text, change the CSS instead of jumping to an H4. Keep headings short and descriptive, and avoid using headings for things that are not section titles, such as taglines or decorative text.
A common source of problems is a theme or page builder that styles widget titles, footers or sidebars as headings. This checker shows those too, so you can fix the template.
Everything runs in your browser.
Is it bad to have more than one H1?
HTML allows it and Google says it can cope, but one H1 is clearer for users and assistive technology, so it remains best practice.
Can I skip from H2 to H4?
Avoid it. Skipped levels make the outline confusing for screen reader users and suggest a missing section.
Do headings need keywords?
Use the words your readers would use to describe each section. Natural, descriptive headings help both people and search engines.