Table of contents
Why heading tags matterHow to check your theme1. Change via the Customizer2. Modify template filesUse a child theme Using custom CSSTheme documentationSEO best practicesAdditional headings and SEOFAQsGetting startedAdditional resources
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WordPress Guide → SEO → Heading Tags

Make post titles H1s in WordPress: How to use heading tags correctly

Your blog post title should always make a strong first impression—and for search engines, that means using the correct HTML heading tag. In WordPress, themes don’t always default to an H1 for the post title, which can quietly hurt your SEO and site structure. 

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Why WordPress heading tags matter for SEO and accessibility

HTML heading tags (H1 through H6) define the structure of your content. When used properly, they help both search engines and users understand how your content is organized.

  • SEO: Search engines prioritize H1 tags as the main indicator of a page’s topic. Without one, Google might struggle to understand what your content is about.
  • Accessibility: Screen readers use headings to help users navigate a page. A clear, logical hierarchy (H1 > H2 > H3) improves usability for all visitors.
  • Readability: Human readers scan headings to find what they need. Misused or inconsistent heading tags disrupt this experience.

How to check if your WordPress theme uses H1 for post titles

Not sure if your theme uses an H1 for post titles? You can check in a few quick steps:

  • Right-click on your post title in a live post and select Inspect (or use your browser’s developer tools).
  • Look for the surrounding HTML tag. You want to see something like <h1 class=”entry-title”>Title here</h1>.
  • If it shows <h2> or another tag, your theme isn’t using H1 for post titles.

You can also:

  • Press Ctrl+U (or right-click → View Page Source) and search for entry-title or <h1> to confirm.
  • Use a plugin like Yoast SEO or Rank Math which flags missing or multiple H1s on a page.

Method 1 – Change heading level via the WordPress Customizer

Some themes let you change heading levels directly in the WordPress Customizer:

  1. In your WordPress dashboard, go to Appearance > Customize.
  2. Look for sections labeled Typography, Single Post, or Theme Options.
  3. Check for a setting that controls the heading level for post titles.
  4. If available, set it to use H1.
  5. Save your changes and preview a post.

Popular themes like Astra, Kadence, and Blocksy offer this level of control.

Method 2 – Modify your theme’s template files

If your theme doesn’t offer a Customizer setting, you can change the post title heading manually:

  • In your dashboard, go to Appearance > Theme File Editor.
  • Open the template file for single posts—usually single.php, content-single.php, or template-parts/content.php.
  • Search for a line like:
    <h2 class=”entry-title”><?php the_title(); ?></h2>
  • Change it to:
    <h1 class=”entry-title”><?php the_title(); ?></h1>
  • Click Update File and preview a post.

Be sure to back up your site before editing theme files, and consider using a staging environment to test changes safely.

Use a child theme to avoid losing changes

Editing theme files directly is risky because updates to the parent theme can overwrite your changes. A child theme preserves custom edits and keeps your site safe.

To set one up:

  • Use a plugin like Child Theme Creator to generate a child theme quickly.
  • Copy the template file (like single.php) from the parent theme into the child theme folder.
  • Make your H1 change there.

Activate the child theme from Appearance > Themes once you’ve made your edits.

Style your title like an H1 using custom CSS (if needed)

If you can’t change the HTML tag but want the title to look like an H1, use custom CSS:

  • Go to Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS
  • Paste in:
    .entry-title {
      font-size: 2.5em;
      font-weight: bold;
    }
  • Save and preview your post

This doesn’t offer the same SEO benefits as a real H1 tag but can be helpful for consistency in design.

Follow your theme’s documentation and developer guidance

Some themes use complex structures or rely on page builders like Elementor or Divi. In these cases:

  • Search the theme’s documentation for “post title H1” or “heading structure.”
  • Contact the theme developer or support forums if you’re unsure.
  • Look for builder-specific modules or widgets that control title output.

Knowing your theme’s structure can save you hours of trial and error.

One H1 per page: what SEO best practices recommend

Each page or post should contain exactly one H1 heading. This H1 should represent the main subject—usually the blog post title. Subsections should use H2s, and nested content should use H3s, H4s, and so on.

Having multiple H1s on a single page can dilute the content’s focus, while omitting an H1 entirely may confuse search engines. Keep your hierarchy clean and predictable to boost SEO performance.

How to structure the rest of your headings for SEO

Once your post title is properly set as an H1, use the rest of your headings to guide readers and Google:

  • Use H2 for each main section in your post (like this one).
  • Use H3 for subsections inside H2s.
  • Avoid skipping levels (e.g., jumping from H2 to H4).
  • Don’t use headings for visual styling—use them to define hierarchy.
  • Keep your headings descriptive and keyword-rich when possible.

A well-structured post with clear headings not only ranks better but also encourages readers to scroll and engage.

WordPress H1 FAQs

WordPress automatically assigns an H1 tag to the post or page title on the front end, so you usually do not need to add one manually. To add an H1 inside the content, open the block editor, add a Heading block, and select H1 from the block’s heading level options.

Most themes expect only one H1 per page, so avoid adding extra H1s unless you know your theme or layout calls for it.

Use heading tags to structure your content in a clear hierarchy. The H1 represents the main topic of the page and usually comes from the post title, while H2s break the content into major sections and H3s organize sub-sections under each H2.

In the block editor, add a Heading block and choose the appropriate level from the toolbar to keep your content readable and SEO-friendly.

H1 size is controlled by your theme’s typography settings or CSS, not by the editor itself. Some block themes let you adjust heading sizes under Appearance → Editor → Styles → Typography, where you can customize the H1 font size visually. If your theme does not offer that option, you can change the H1 size by adding custom CSS under Appearance → Customize → Additional CSS.

To italicize a post title across the site, you need to use custom CSS since WordPress does not include a built-in toggle for styling titles. You can add a rule like font-style: italic; to the post title selector in Appearance → Customize → Additional CSS. If you only want italics in the content, use the Italic button in the block editor instead of styling the title itself.

Additional resources

WordPress SEO
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A beginner’s guide with 7 tips to get you started

Best WordPress robots.txt template (example) →

Discover the best robots.txt template to guide search engines and boost your WordPress site’s SEO performance.

Yoast SEO WordPress plugin
→

A complete guide to one of the most popular SEO plugins on WordPress

Alexis Wisniewski is an Organic SEO Manager at Liquid Web. She has been leading SEO, primarily for technology brands, since 2013, specializing in SEO content and strategy. When she’s not reading and writing online, she’s usually reading and writing offline, or spending time with her family in the Chicagoland suburbs.