# Heading tags Heading tags are h1 to h6 in HTML. They outline your page for readers, search engines and screen readers. This entry shows how to set them right on a small site and what to avoid. Updated 2026-09-14 · Source: https://porteur.ai/glossary/heading-tags ## What heading tags are and how Google treats them Heading tags are the HTML elements h1 to h6. Use one h1 for the page title, h2 for sections, and h3 within those sections. Only go deeper when the content needs it. Google uses headings to understand a page’s structure and topics, but as of 2026 they are not a strong ranking factor. Several h1s will not break indexing, though one h1 is the convention and reads better. Screen readers let people jump by heading. Keep levels in order and do not skip from h1 to h3. Headings that match common questions help featured snippets and AI answers quote that section. ```html

Pricing

Simple plans for teams.

Monthly plans

Starter

Pro

Annual plans

``` ## Why headings matter on a small site You have few pages and little time. Clear headings help users scan, cut bounce, and make support pages easier to use. Good headings also make it clearer what each page is for, so you avoid intent mismatch and keyword cannibalisation across similar pages. On a help page like "/guides/getting-started", an h1 that states the task and h2s that match the steps reduce support tickets. On "/pricing", h2s that match plans cut confusion and make internal links clearer, for example a link with anchor text "See Pro features" that jumps to the h3 Pro section. ## How to set and check your headings 1. **Pick the h1** Make it the page title users expect. Example on "/guides/getting-started": h1 "Getting started with YourProduct". 2. **Map h2 sections** List the main sections. Turn them into h2s. Example: "Install", "Connect data", "First dashboard". 3. **Nest h3 only when needed** Use h3 inside a section when there are subtopics. Do not jump from h2 to h4. 4. **Phrase questions where helpful** Use h2 like "How does billing work?" on "/pricing". This can earn a featured snippet or an AI quote when your answer sits right under it. 5. **Check the outline in the browser** Right click, Inspect, search for

,

,

. Or use your CMS preview to view source and scan the heading order. 6. **Fix styling-only misuse** Do not use headings to make text big. Use CSS classes on

or

. Reserve h1 to h6 for the document outline. A fixed page reads cleanly in the outline: one h1 that matches the title tag, logical h2s for sections, optional h3s, and no skipped levels. > Do not skip levels: h1, then h2, then h3. Skips confuse screen reader navigation. ## Write headings that answer searches Match how people ask. On a FAQ page, use h2s like "What is your refund policy?" and "How do I cancel?" Keep the answer in the next paragraph. Short, direct, no fluff. For a blog post targeting "heading tag html", start with h1 "Heading tag HTML: H1 to H6 explained". Follow with h2s "What are H1 to H6", "How Google uses headings", and "Examples". This signals relevance without stuffing keywords. ## Common traps and quick fixes - Multiple h1s used for styling. Fix by keeping one h1 and moving others to h2 with CSS for size. - Empty headings generated by the CMS. Remove or convert them to

. - Skipping levels, for example h1 to h3. Insert the missing level or lower the deeper one. - Using

as a heading.
is a container, still put an h1 or h2 inside. - Keywords stuffed into every heading. Write for scanning first, add key terms only where they help understanding. - Accordion components that hide h2s by default. Ensure collapsed headings still use real h2, not buttons without roles. Test with a screen reader shortcut list of headings. If the list is confusing, fix the HTML, not just the CSS. ## Questions ### How do I put a heading in HTML? Wrap the text in a heading element, for example

Features

. Use h1 for the page title, h2 for sections, and h3 inside sections when needed. ### Is it
? Use
for a line break. It is a void element and does not have a closing tag. Do not use line breaks to fake headings. ### How do I put H1 in HTML? Add one h1 near the top of the main content, for example

Pricing

. Keep it visible and match it to the page’s title and purpose. ### What are H1 and H2 tags? They are heading levels in HTML. H1 is the page title. H2 marks top-level sections under that title. Use h3 for sub-sections inside an h2. ### Can I have multiple H1s? Browsers and Google can handle several h1s, but one h1 is the convention and helps users and screen readers. Use h2 for other top-level sections. ### What is the difference between header and heading?
is a structural container like a banner or section header. A heading is an h1 to h6 element. You often put a heading inside a header. ## Read next - [Title tag](https://porteur.ai/glossary/title-tag): A title tag is the HTML title of a page. See how long it should be, why Google rewrites it, what to put in it, and how to fix weak titles. - [Meta description](https://porteur.ai/glossary/meta-description): What a meta description is, how long to make it, why Google rewrites it, how to check yours, and what to write anyway for higher CTR. - [On-page SEO checklist: the twelve things on the page](https://porteur.ai/guides/on-page-seo-checklist): The twelve page elements that move clicks and rankings, with examples you can copy to your own product pages today. - [Internal linking for a small site: which pages link to which](https://porteur.ai/guides/internal-linking-for-seo): Decide which pages rank. Build hubs, write clear anchors, fix orphans, and crawl your site to map links you control. - [Featured snippet](https://porteur.ai/glossary/featured-snippet): What a featured snippet is, how to earn and measure it, and how AI Overviews change clicks and priorities for a small site. - [People also ask: turning Google’s questions into sections](https://porteur.ai/guides/people-also-ask): See what People also ask is, where questions come from, how to collect them, write two-sentence answers, add FAQ markup, and track results. - [hreflang](https://porteur.ai/glossary/hreflang): hreflang tells search engines the language and region for each page version. See when you need it, where to declare it, and how to avoid errors. Want a quick audit of your headings and questions across key pages? Paste a URL and get a free check in about thirty seconds with three full findings. Free check: https://porteur.ai/