301 vs 302 Redirect: What's the Difference?

A redirect sends a visitor (and search engines) from one URL to another. The two you'll meet most — 301 and 302 — look identical to a user but mean very different things to browsers and Google. Getting them wrong can quietly cost you SEO rankings.

The quick answer

• 301 = permanent. "This page has moved for good — use the new URL from now on."
• 302 = temporary. "This page is somewhere else for now — keep using the original URL."

Why the difference matters for SEO

This is the part that trips people up. A 301tells Google to transfer the old page's ranking signals ("link equity") to the new URL and index the new one. A 302tells Google to keep the original URL indexed, because the move is temporary — so it generally does not pass ranking power the same way.

The classic mistake: permanently moving a page but using a 302. Google keeps the old URL, the new one struggles to rank, and your traffic dips. If a move is permanent, use a 301.

When to use each

• Use 301 when: you've renamed a URL, moved to HTTPS, merged pages, or changed domains.
• Use 302 when: A/B testing, a short promo page, geo/language redirects, or temporary maintenance.

What about 307 and 308?

These are the stricter, modern versions:

• 308 = permanent (like 301) but the HTTP method must not change on redirect.
• 307 = temporary (like 302) but the method must not change.

For everyday page moves, 301 and 302 are what you'll use. 307/308 matter mostly for non-GET requests (like POST) where preserving the method is important.

How to check which redirect a URL returns

Open your browser's DevTools → Network tab, load the URL, and look at the Statuscolumn for the first request (301, 302, 307, or 308). Not sure what a code means? Look it up in the HTTP status codes reference — it explains every response code in plain English.

FAQ

Is a 301 better than a 302 for SEO?

For a permanent move, yes — a 301 passes ranking signals to the new URL. Use a 302 only when the change is genuinely temporary.

Do 301 redirects lose any ranking?

Modern Google passes nearly all ranking signals through a 301, so any loss is minimal. Chaining many redirects together is what to avoid — keep it to a single hop.

Can I change a 302 to a 301 later?

Yes. If a "temporary" move becomes permanent, switch it to a 301 so Google updates the indexed URL.

How do I see a page's status code?

Use your browser's Network tab, or check the meaning of any code in the HTTP status codes list.