SEO Tools
H1 tag checker.
Paste a page's HTML to check its H1 and heading tags. You get a pass or fail on H1 count, H1 length, empty headings, skipped levels and H1 vs title, plus the full H1-H6 outline in document order. Everything runs in your browser.
Short answer: a page should normally have one non-empty, descriptive H1, with H2 to H6 stepping down one level at a time. Google says heading order does not matter for Search, but screen-reader users rely on it.
Inputs
Result
Paste HTML and press Analyze.
What the H1 checker tests
- H1 count: pass at exactly one, fail at none, review at two or more.
- H1 has text: an empty H1 fails.
- H1 length: reviewed above 70 characters (this tool's rule of thumb, not a Google limit).
- Empty H2-H6: screen-reader users often navigate by heading list, so empty headings fail.
- Skipped levels: an H2 followed directly by an H4 fails; going back up (H4 to H2) is fine.
- H1 vs title: shown as a note only.
It reads native H1-H6 elements and role="heading" with aria-level, in true source order, and ignores headings inside script, style, template and textarea.
What makes a good H1
A good H1 names what the page is about in the words a visitor would use, and does so once. Keep it specific, readable at a glance and different from the H1 of every other page on your site.
Good and bad examples
| Situation | Example | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Clear and specific | <h1>How to Repot a Snake Plant</h1> | Pass |
| Vague | <h1>Welcome</h1> | Passes the checks, but tells nobody what the page is |
| Logo only, no text | <h1><img src="logo.png"></h1> | Fail: empty text |
| Two H1s | <h1>Shop</h1> ... <h1>Sale</h1> | Review |
| Skipped level | <h2>Features</h2><h4>Price</h4> | Fail |
Worked example
Paste this and press Analyze:
<title>Snake Plant Care</title>
<h1>Snake Plant Care</h1>
<h2>Light</h2>
<h4>Low light</h4>
<h2></h2>Result: H1 count passes (one H1), H1 has text passes, length passes. Skipped levels fails (H2 to H4 at heading 3). Empty H2-H6 fails (heading 4 is empty). H1 vs title is noted as identical.
Multiple H1 tags in HTML5
HTML5 allows more than one H1 on a page, and the old outline algorithm promised that nesting section elements would re-level headings automatically. No browser or screen reader implemented it, so the HTML Standard now tells authors to set explicit heading levels. Google has said that multiple H1s are fine for Search. The practical reason to use one is clarity for readers and assistive technology.
Sources
- Google Search Central: SEO Starter Guide (headings and title links)
- WHATWG HTML Standard: headings and outlines
- W3C WAI: Headings tutorial
- MDN: H1-H6 elements
- MDN: ARIA heading role
Sources reviewed October 1, 2026. Related: title tag checker, meta tag analyzer, readability checker.
H1 checker FAQ
Should a page have exactly one H1?
One descriptive H1 is the clearest pattern and the one this checker passes. More than one is flagged for review, not as an error: HTML does not forbid it, and Google has said it does not require a single H1 for Search.
Are multiple H1 tags allowed in HTML5?
Syntactically yes, but the HTML5 document outline algorithm that was meant to give each section its own top-level heading was never implemented by browsers or assistive technology, and the HTML Standard now describes heading levels as the way to convey structure. In practice, heading levels are read as a flat list, so use one H1 and nest the rest.
Does the H1 have to match the title tag?
No. The title element and the H1 can be identical or differ. The checker shows which one you have as a note, not a pass or fail. Google may use the title element and other on-page headings when it writes the title link shown in results.
How long should an H1 be?
There is no official limit. This tool flags an H1 over 70 characters for review as its own readability rule of thumb, because very long H1s are hard to scan. Treat it as a prompt to re-read the heading, not a rule.
Is it wrong to move from H3 back to H2?
No. Moving back up closes a subsection. The checker only flags jumps deeper by more than one level, such as H2 straight to H4, which the W3C accessibility tutorial advises against.
Does heading order affect Google rankings?
Google's SEO Starter Guide says semantic heading order is great for screen readers but, from a Search perspective, it does not matter if headings are out of order, and there is no ideal number of headings. Fix them for accessibility and readability rather than as a ranking lever.
Can this checker fetch a URL?
No. Fetching other sites needs a server-side proxy, which adds abuse and privacy risk, so this page works from pasted HTML only and parses it locally in your browser. Pasted markup is never loaded, so embedded images and scripts are not requested. The page itself still uses the site's analytics and advertising services.
Does it include ARIA headings?
Yes. Elements with role="heading" and an aria-level from 1 to 6 are counted alongside native H1-H6 elements.