Imagine trying to read a book where Chapter 1 is followed by Chapter 5, then Chapter 2, then Chapter 12. You'd be completely lost, unable to follow the author's logic or find the information you need. This confusing experience is exactly what happens when websites use headings in the wrong order—users, especially those using screen readers, can't understand how the content is organized.
Proper heading order means organizing your HTML headings (h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6) in a logical hierarchy that reflects the structure of your content. Just like a well-organized outline, headings should flow from most important (h1) to least important (h6), with each level containing the appropriate sub-topics under it.
Proper heading structure serves as an invisible navigation system that benefits multiple types of users:
Think of headings as highway signs that tell users where they are and what's coming next. When headings are out of order, it's like having highway signs that skip from Exit 1 to Exit 5 to Exit 2—users get lost and frustrated trying to find their destination.
Even well-designed websites often have heading structure problems that make navigation difficult:
<!-- Problematic: Multiple h1 tags create confusion -->
<h1>Welcome to Our Website</h1>
<section>
<h1>About Our Services</h1> <!-- Should be h2 -->
<p>Content about services...</p>
</section>
<section>
<h1>Contact Information</h1> <!-- Should be h2 -->
<p>Contact details...</p>
</section>
<!-- Better: Single h1 with logical h2s -->
<h1>Welcome to Our Website</h1>
<section>
<h2>About Our Services</h2>
<p>Content about services...</p>
</section>
<section>
<h2>Contact Information</h2>
<p>Contact details...</p>
</section><!-- Problematic: Skipping from h2 to h4 -->
<h1>Main Article Title</h1>
<h2>Introduction</h2>
<h4>Key Benefits</h4> <!-- Skips h3, creates confusion -->
<h4>Important Features</h4>
<!-- Better: Logical progression -->
<h1>Main Article Title</h1>
<h2>Introduction</h2>
<h3>Key Benefits</h3>
<h4>Benefit Details</h4>
<h3>Important Features</h3>
<h4>Feature Details</h4><!-- Problematic: Headings chosen for appearance, not structure -->
<h1>Page Title</h1>
<h4>This text looks good in h4 styling</h4> <!-- Not a sub-topic -->
<h2>Actual section heading</h2>
<h6>Small text that should be emphasized</h6> <!-- Not a heading -->
<!-- Better: Headings for structure, CSS for appearance -->
<h1>Page Title</h1>
<p class="emphasis-text">This text looks good with custom styling</p>
<h2>Actual Section Heading</h2>
<p class="small-emphasis">Small text that should be emphasized</p>
/* CSS for visual styling */
.emphasis-text {
font-size: 1.2em;
font-weight: bold;
color: #333;
}
.small-emphasis {
font-size: 0.9em;
font-style: italic;
color: #666;
}Each page should have exactly one h1 that describes the main topic or purpose.
<!-- Good: Single h1 that summarizes the page -->
<h1>Complete Guide to Home Gardening</h1>
<!-- For blog posts -->
<h1>10 Tips for Growing Tomatoes in Small Spaces</h1>
<!-- For product pages -->
<h1>Wireless Bluetooth Headphones - Model XYZ</h1>
<!-- For service pages -->
<h1>Professional Web Design Services</h1>Plan your heading structure like you would an outline or table of contents.
<!-- Example: Well-structured article -->
<h1>Complete Guide to Home Gardening</h1>
<h2>Getting Started</h2>
<h3>Choosing the Right Location</h3>
<h3>Essential Tools and Supplies</h3>
<h4>Basic Hand Tools</h4>
<h4>Soil and Fertilizers</h4>
<h2>Planning Your Garden</h2>
<h3>Seasonal Planting Calendar</h3>
<h3>Space Management</h3>
<h2>Common Gardening Problems</h2>
<h3>Pest Control</h3>
<h3>Disease Prevention</h3>
<h4>Fungal Issues</h4>
<h4>Bacterial Problems</h4>Move through heading levels sequentially—don't jump from h2 to h4.
<!-- Good: Sequential heading levels -->
<h1>Main Title</h1>
<h2>Major Section</h2>
<h3>Subsection</h3>
<h4>Sub-subsection</h4>
<h3>Another Subsection</h3>
<h2>Another Major Section</h2>
<!-- You CAN skip levels going up (closing sections) -->
<h1>Main Title</h1>
<h2>Section A</h2>
<h3>Subsection A1</h3>
<h4>Details</h4>
<h2>Section B</h2> <!-- OK to skip from h4 back to h2 -->Choose heading levels for meaning, not appearance. Use CSS to control how they look.
<!-- HTML: Structure based on content hierarchy -->
<h1>Main Article Title</h1>
<h2>Important Section</h2>
<h3>Subsection That Should Look Bigger</h3>
/* CSS: Style based on design needs */
h1 {
font-size: 2.5em;
color: #2c3e50;
}
h2 {
font-size: 1.8em;
color: #34495e;
}
h3.prominent {
font-size: 2em; /* Bigger than normal h3 */
font-weight: bold;
color: #e74c3c;
}
/* You can make any heading look however you want */<h1>How to Create Accessible Websites</h1>
<h2>Why Accessibility Matters</h2>
<h2>Essential Accessibility Principles</h2>
<h3>Keyboard Navigation</h3>
<h3>Screen Reader Support</h3>
<h3>Visual Design Considerations</h3>
<h2>Testing Your Website</h2>
<h2>Resources and Tools</h2><h1>Professional Website Design Services</h1>
<h2>What We Offer</h2>
<h3>Custom Design</h3>
<h3>Responsive Development</h3>
<h3>SEO Optimization</h3>
<h2>Our Process</h2>
<h3>Discovery Phase</h3>
<h3>Design & Development</h3>
<h3>Launch & Support</h3>
<h2>Pricing & Packages</h2>
<h2>Get Started Today</h2><h1>Welcome to ABC Company</h1>
<h2>What We Do</h2>
<h2>Why Choose Us</h2>
<h3>Experience</h3>
<h3>Quality</h3>
<h3>Customer Service</h3>
<h2>Our Services</h2>
<h3>Web Design</h3>
<h3>Marketing</h3>
<h3>Consulting</h3>
<h2>Get In Touch</h2>Regular testing ensures your heading structure creates clear navigation paths:
Well-organized headings deliver multiple business advantages:
Several tools can help you create and maintain proper heading structure:
Proper heading order is like creating a well-designed bridge that carries users smoothly from one part of your content to another. When headings follow a logical hierarchy, they create clear pathways that help everyone—from screen reader users to search engines—understand and navigate your content effectively.
The beauty of good heading structure is that it serves multiple purposes simultaneously. It improves accessibility for users with disabilities, enhances SEO performance for search engines, and makes content more scannable and understandable for all visitors. This triple benefit makes heading structure one of the most cost-effective improvements you can make to your website.
Remember that headings are about communication, not decoration. When you choose heading levels based on content meaning rather than visual appearance, you create websites that work better for everyone and stand the test of time as web standards evolve.
Greadme's tools can analyze your website's heading structure and identify areas where the hierarchy could be improved for better accessibility and user experience.
Check Your Website's Heading Structure Today