The short answer
Use a 301 (or 308) redirect when a page has moved permanently, and a 302 (or 307) when the move is temporary. Keep chains short, ideally a single hop from the old address to the final one.
What is a redirect?
A redirect automatically sends visitors and search engines from one address to another. It is how you keep old links working after a page moves, a site is redesigned or you switch to https.
The four common types
- 301 Moved Permanently: the page has a new home for good. Search engines pass the old address's ranking to the new one.
- 308 Permanent Redirect: like a 301, and it also keeps the original request method.
- 302 Found: a temporary move. Search engines may keep the old address in results.
- 307 Temporary Redirect: like a 302, and it keeps the request method.
Which should you use?
For nearly every site move, merged page or switch to https, use a 301. Use a 302 only when the original address will come back, for example during short maintenance or a time-limited campaign.
Why redirect chains are a problem
A chain happens when A redirects to B, which redirects to C. Each step slows the page, and search engines stop following very long chains. Point the first address straight to the final one.
How to check yours
Enter any address into the Redirect Checker to see every hop, its status code and timing, with plain-language warnings. The HTTP Header Checker shows the full response headers.
Try the free tools
Frequently asked questions
Do 301 redirects lose ranking?
Search engines say a properly set up 301 passes the value of the old page to the new one. Ranking can still shift while they process the change.
How long should I keep a 301 in place?
Keep it for at least a year, and ideally for as long as the old address still receives links or visits.
How many redirects are too many?
One is best. More than three in a row is a problem to fix, and browsers and crawlers give up after a limited number of hops.