Number of Headings counts every heading element on the page — H1 through H6 combined — and returns that single total. It is a structural tally, not a keyword check, and a higher count is not inherently better.
| Factor ID | RG-KWD-022 |
|---|---|
| Family | Keyword Usage & Density |
| Measurement | Heading count |
| Measured zone | H1 through H6 elements |
What it measures
This factor counts the page’s total parsed headings across all six HTML heading levels. It is a single whole number: the sum of every heading the page contains, regardless of which level each one sits at.
How RankGear measures it
RankGear parses the rendered page, tallies each H1, H2, H3, H4, H5, and H6 element, and returns the combined total. Levels are not weighted — an H1 and an H6 each add exactly one to the same sum.
What RankGear looks for
<h1>…</h1>
<h2>…</h2>
<h3>…</h3>
<h4>…</h4>
<h5>…</h5>
<h6>…</h6>
// each parsed heading element adds 1 to the total| If the page is… | Do this |
|---|---|
| Short or single-topic | A handful of headings is usually enough — don’t pad the count. |
| Long or multi-topic | Add more headings so each meaningful section is its own navigable block. |
| Reading as a low or high outlier vs. peers | Check whether the structure actually matches the content, not the number itself. |
How to optimize it
Use enough headings to make the content easy to navigate, with each heading representing a meaningful section in a logical hierarchy. Treat the count as an observation, not a target: page length and complexity should decide the appropriate number, and adding headings purely to raise the tally works against readability.
Important considerations
- Despite its Keyword Usage & Density family, this factor does not inspect keyword usage — it only counts elements.
- It does not weight heading levels differently; every level counts equally toward the total.
- More headings are not inherently better.
- Page length and complexity should determine the appropriate count.
- The count relates to how a page compares within a measured result set; it is a prioritization signal, not a cause of ranking, and no heading count guarantees a position.
Related factors
Part of the Factors reference · how RankGear measures · glossary.