Part of the Accessibility audit
Check your heading structure for accessibility and SEO
Skipped heading levels confuse screen readers and search engines. SiteCurl checks every page for proper H1 through H6 order.
No signup required. Results in under 60 seconds.
What this check does
SiteCurl checks two things about your headings: that each page has exactly one H1, and that heading levels follow a logical order without skipping. A page that jumps from H2 to H4, skipping H3, is flagged as having a broken hierarchy.
The check also flags pages with no H1 tag and pages with multiple H1 tags. Both cases make it harder for screen readers and search engines to understand the main topic of the page.
Why it matters
Screen readers use headings to build an outline of your page. Users navigate by jumping between headings to find the section they want. A skipped level breaks that outline and makes navigation confusing.
Search engines also use heading structure to understand your content. A clear H1 tells them what the page is about. Properly nested subheadings help them understand the relationship between sections. Broken heading structure is a missed signal.
How to fix it
Make sure every page has exactly one H1 that describes the main topic. Use H2 for major sections, H3 for subsections within those, and so on. Never skip a level: do not jump from H2 to H4.
If you use a CMS, check your templates. Many themes use heading levels for styling rather than structure. An H3 should not be used just because it looks the right size. Use CSS for styling and headings for structure.
After fixing heading order, run another scan to confirm the hierarchy is correct. SiteCurl checks every page so you can catch issues across your whole site.
Example findings from a scan
Heading hierarchy skips from H2 to H4
No H1 tag found on /services
Multiple H1 tags on /about
Related checks
Frequently asked questions
Can I have more than one H1?
Technically yes, but best practice is one H1 per page. Multiple H1 tags dilute the main topic signal for both screen readers and search engines.
Does heading order affect rankings?
Headings help search engines understand content structure. A clear hierarchy makes it easier for them to identify your main topic and subtopics. It is not a direct ranking factor but contributes to content quality signals.
What if my CMS template uses wrong heading levels?
Edit the template to use the correct heading level. If you cannot change the template, override the heading in individual pages. The HTML heading level should match the content hierarchy, not the visual size.
Can I check headings without signing up?
Yes. The free audit checks heading hierarchy as part of a full seven-category scan. No signup required.
Why does skipping H3 matter if H4 looks fine?
Screen reader users navigate by heading level. They expect H3 to come after H2. A skip from H2 to H4 makes them think they missed a section. The visual appearance is irrelevant to assistive technology.
Check your heading structure now