301 vs 302 Redirect for SEO: Which One Should You Use?
When to use a permanent 301, when a temporary 302 is right, and how to check what your server sends.
A redirect sends visitors and search engines from one URL to another. The status code tells them whether the move is permanent or temporary โ and that affects which URL search engines keep in their index.
301: moved permanently
Use a 301 when a page has a new permanent address: a changed URL, a merged article, a domain move or the switch to HTTPS. Search engines transfer the old URL's signals to the new one and, over time, show the new URL in results.
302: found (temporary)
Use a 302 when the original URL will return: a product temporarily unavailable, a short promotion page, A/B testing or maintenance of one page. Search engines usually keep the original URL indexed.
307 and 308
- 307 โ temporary, like 302, but guarantees the request method stays the same. Browsers also use an internal 307 when a site uses HSTS.
- 308 โ permanent, like 301, with the same method guarantee.
For SEO, treat 308 like 301 and 307 like 302.
What happens if you use the wrong one?
If a permanent move uses a 302 for a long time, Google may eventually treat it as permanent anyway, but it sends mixed signals and can delay the change. If a temporary change uses a 301, the original URL may drop out of results. Match the code to your intention.
Common situations
- Changed blog URL: 301.
- HTTP to HTTPS: 301 โ see how to move to HTTPS.
- Seasonal page sent to the main category off-season: 302.
- Geo or language suggestion: avoid forced redirects; offer a switcher.
- Deleted page with a close replacement: 301 โ see 410 vs 404 for SEO when there is none.
How to check which redirect you use
Plugins, hosting panels and CDNs sometimes create 302s by default. Paste the old URL into the redirect checker to see each hop and its status code. A clean redirect is one hop with the right code. Read how to check a redirect URL for more.
A worked example
A UK recruitment site rebuilt its job category pages and set up redirects through a plugin. Months later, old URLs were still showing in Google. A redirect check revealed the plugin had used 302s by default. Changing them to 301s led Google to replace the old URLs with the new ones within a few weeks.
Redirect habits worth keeping
- Redirect straight to the final URL in one hop.
- Update internal links so they point to the new URL directly.
- Keep permanent redirects in place for at least a year โ longer for pages with links.
Related guides
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Frequently asked questions
Does a 301 redirect lose SEO value?
Google has said 301 and other server redirects do not lose PageRank, but the target page should be a relevant replacement.
When should I use a 302?
Only for genuinely temporary moves where the original URL will return.
Are JavaScript or meta refresh redirects okay?
Server-side redirects are more reliable. Use others only when server redirects are impossible.
How long should a 301 stay in place?
At least a year, and permanently for URLs with backlinks.