# Heading Counter
> Paste HTML or Markdown to count how many H1 to H6 headings it contains, see the heading outline with word counts and check that the page has exactly one H1.
- URL: https://wordcounter.pk/heading-counter/
- Type: Interactive tool (runs in the browser; nothing is uploaded)
- Updated: 2026-10-15
## How to use the heading counter
1. Paste your page’s HTML, or Markdown with # headings.
2. Check the counts for each level; a page should normally have one H1.
3. Review the outline for skipped levels, for example an H4 directly under an H2.
4. Fix issues in your CMS and recount.
## Why headings matter
Headings give a page structure for readers, screen readers and search engines. A single H1 states the page’s topic; H2s divide it into major sections; H3s subdivide those. Skipping levels or using headings for styling confuses assistive technology, which uses headings to navigate. Search engines also use headings as a hint to what each section covers, so descriptive wording helps.
The table below the counts lists every heading with its word count, which makes thin or bloated sections visible. Pair the outline with the [Content Brief Word Counter](https://wordcounter.pk/content-brief-word-counter/) to compare the real section lengths with your plan.
## Common heading problems
- No H1, or several H1s created by a theme.
- Headings used for styling, such as bold lines turned into H3.
- Vague headings like “More information”.
- Very long headings; keep them under about 70 characters.
To extract the visible text of the same HTML for a clean word count, use the [Plain Text Extractor](https://wordcounter.pk/plain-text-extractor/) or [HTML Word Counter](https://wordcounter.pk/html-word-counter/).
## Frequently asked questions
### Should a page have only one H1?
Normally yes. HTML permits more, but one is the clearest convention.
### Does it count Markdown headings?
Yes, lines that start with #.
### Is my HTML sent anywhere?
No. It is parsed in your browser.
## Related
- [HTML Word Counter](https://wordcounter.pk/html-word-counter/index.md): Count the visible words in HTML, ignoring tags, scripts and styles.
- [Plain Text Extractor](https://wordcounter.pk/plain-text-extractor/index.md): Strip HTML tags and copy the plain text, with word counts.
- [Anchor Text Counter](https://wordcounter.pk/anchor-text-counter/index.md): List every link’s anchor text, word count and destination from your HTML.
- [Content Brief Word Counter](https://wordcounter.pk/content-brief-word-counter/index.md): Track words per heading against a content brief’s plan.
- [Meta Title Length Checker](https://wordcounter.pk/meta-title-length-checker/index.md): Check title tag length in characters and estimated pixel width.
- [Meta Description Length Checker](https://wordcounter.pk/meta-description-length-checker/index.md): Check meta description length in characters and estimated pixels.
- [SERP Snippet Preview](https://wordcounter.pk/serp-snippet-preview/index.md): Preview your title, URL and description as a Google result on desktop and mobile.
- [SEO Word Counter](https://wordcounter.pk/seo-word-counter/index.md): Check page copy length, section balance and repeated words.
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