Heading tags (H1-H6): how to use them for structure, not tricks
Learn how headings work for accessibility and SEO, what not to do, and how to audit heading structure on any page.
2026-03-02
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1 min read
Heading tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.) create the outline of your page. They’re for both users and machines: users scan headings to understand content, and crawlers use them to parse structure.
You don’t need “heading hacks.” You just need clear, hierarchical structure.
The purpose of each heading level
- H1: the primary topic of the page. Usually one per page.
- H2: major sections that support the H1.
- H3: subsections that support an H2.
- H4-H6: deeper nesting (rarely needed for most content).
Headings should describe what comes after them, not just repeat the same keyword in different sizes.
Common heading mistakes to avoid
- Skipping levels: H1 → H3 without an H2 breaks hierarchy.
- Keyword stuffing: stuffing headings with the same phrase repeatedly doesn’t help and looks spammy.
- Empty headings: headings with no text confuse everyone.
- Headings used for styling: if you just want big, bold text, use CSS, not an H tag.
How to audit heading structure
You can check heading structure using our SEO Audit Tool. Or view the page source and look for:
- one clear H1
- logical ordering
- descriptive text in each heading
Headings are one of the easiest places to improve clarity without rewriting everything.
Link back to the glossary
Quick definition: Heading tags in the Glossary.