devpack
Site Audit

Heading Checker — H1 to H6 Structure

Visualise the heading outline of any page. Find missing or duplicate H1s, skipped levels and empty headings that confuse search engines and screen-reader users.

Runs on our server

What the Heading Checker reports

Enter any public URL above and press Enter or Ctrl + Enter.

  • Count of H1, H2, H3, H4, H5 and H6
  • Indented document outline
  • Skipped levels (e.g. H2 → H4)
  • Missing or multiple H1 tags
  • Empty headings
  • Duplicate heading text
  • H1 vs. title tag comparison
  • Copy outline as text or Markdown
Try:

This tool fetches the public URL you enter from our server. Results are held in temporary memory for a few minutes and never stored in a database.

How to use the Heading Checker

  1. Paste the page URL and click Check headings.
  2. Check the counts: most pages should have exactly one H1, several H2s for main sections and H3s beneath them.
  3. Scan the outline — rows highlighted in amber skip a level, red rows are empty headings.
  4. Fix the issues in your CMS, then click Copy outline to paste the structure into a brief or ticket.

What is a heading checker?

A heading checker extracts every <h1> to <h6> element from a web page and shows them in document order as an indented outline. Headings form the table of contents of a page: search engines use them to understand which topics a page covers and how sections relate, and screen-reader users jump between headings to navigate. A clean outline helps both.

What the checks mean

One H1 per page

The H1 should state the main topic of the page, usually close to the title tag. Google has said that multiple H1s are not a problem for its systems, but a single, clear H1 remains the most robust convention for accessibility and for clarity in templates. A page with no H1 is a more serious gap: you lose the strongest on-page signal of what the page is about. Logos and site names wrapped in an H1 on every page are a common cause of duplicate H1s.

No skipped levels

Headings should descend one level at a time: an H2 section can contain H3s, an H3 can contain H4s. Jumping from an H2 straight to an H4 breaks the logical hierarchy (WCAG technique G141 recommends a correct heading structure). The usual cause is choosing a heading level for its font size — style headings with CSS classes instead, so the level can reflect the structure.

No empty or duplicate headings

Empty headings — often icon wrappers or leftover CMS elements — are announced by screen readers as “heading” with no text. Duplicate headings such as repeated “Learn more” make the outline meaningless out of context.

Example of a good outline

H1  Running shoes for flat feet
  H2  How we tested
  H2  The best running shoes for flat feet
    H3  Best overall: …
    H3  Best for trail: …
  H2  How to choose
    H3  Stability vs. neutral shoes
  H2  FAQ

Each heading is descriptive on its own, levels never skip, and the H1 matches the search intent. For the rest of the page's on-page factors, run the full SEO Checker; to see which words your headings and copy emphasise, use the Keyword Density Checker.

Tools that pair well with the Heading Checker

  • Meta Tag Checker — See exactly how Google is likely to display your page: title and description measured in pixels, desktop and mobile previews, and every meta tag in the <head>.
  • Word Counter — Paste or type your text to count words and characters live — plus reading and speaking time, keyword density and length checks for SEO titles, meta descriptions and social posts.
  • Image Alt Checker — Audit every image on a page in one table: alt text status, file size, width/height attributes, format and lazy loading — with filters and CSV export.
  • Open Graph Checker — Preview how your link will look when shared on Facebook, LinkedIn, X and Slack.

Frequently asked questions

Is it bad to have more than one H1?
Not for Google, which has said multiple H1s are fine. However, one descriptive H1 is still best practice for accessibility and consistency, so this tool flags multiple H1s as a warning rather than an error.
Do headings help SEO?
Yes, indirectly but clearly: headings help search engines understand the structure and topics of a page, can be used for featured snippets and jump links, and make content easier to scan, which keeps visitors engaged.
Should the H1 be the same as the title tag?
They can be identical, but they don’t have to be. The title is written for the search results page; the H1 greets visitors on the page. Both should describe the same topic.
Why are headings in my navigation or footer counted?
Because they are real heading elements in the HTML. Search engines and screen readers see them too. If they are not section titles, consider using a styled <p> or <div> instead.
Does this tool see headings added by JavaScript?
No, it reads the HTML delivered by the server. Headings rendered only on the client will not appear here.

Related tools

SEO Checker & Site AuditPaste a URL to run up to 70 on-page SEO checks in seconds. You get a score, a prioritised list of issues…Meta Tag CheckerSee exactly how Google is likely to display your page: title and description measured in pixels, desktop…Keyword Density CheckerEnter a URL and the keyword it should rank for. See where the keyword appears, how often, which phrases…Word CounterPaste or type your text to count words and characters live — plus reading and speaking time, keyword…Image Alt CheckerAudit every image on a page in one table: alt text status, file size, width/height attributes, format and…Open Graph CheckerPreview how your link will look when shared on Facebook, LinkedIn, X and Slack. We flag missing tags, test…