301 vs 302 Redirect SEO: Key Differences and When to Use Each

A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect that passes most SEO value to the new URL, signaling search engines to update their index. A 302 redirect is temporary and does not pass full SEO value, telling search engines the original URL will return soon.

Quick Comparison

This table summarizes the main SEO-related differences between 301 and 302 redirects.

Factor	301 Redirect	302 Redirect
Redirect Type	Permanent	Temporary
SEO Link Equity	Mostly transferred	Usually not transferred
Search Engine Indexing	New URL indexed	Original URL retained
User Experience	Seamless permanent move	Temporary redirect experience
Use Case	Page permanently moved	Page temporarily moved or testing
Caching by Browsers	Cached long-term	Cached short-term or not at all

Key Differences

301 redirects tell search engines that a page has permanently moved to a new location. This means search engines will transfer most of the original page's ranking power, or link equity, to the new URL. Over time, the old URL will be replaced in search results by the new one.

In contrast, 302 redirects indicate a temporary move. Search engines keep the original URL indexed and do not transfer full SEO value to the new URL. This is useful when content is temporarily moved or under testing.

Because of these differences, using the wrong redirect type can affect your SEO. For example, using a 302 redirect when a page has permanently moved can cause search engines to keep the old URL indexed, hurting your site's ranking and confusing users.

301 Redirect Code Example

apache

# Example of a 301 redirect in Apache .htaccess
Redirect 301 /old-page.html https://www.example.com/new-page.html

Output

When a user or search engine requests /old-page.html, they are permanently redirected to https://www.example.com/new-page.html.

302 Redirect Equivalent

apache

# Example of a 302 redirect in Apache .htaccess
Redirect 302 /old-page.html https://www.example.com/new-page.html

Output

When a user or search engine requests /old-page.html, they are temporarily redirected to https://www.example.com/new-page.html.

When to Use Which

Choose a 301 redirect when you have permanently moved a page or site to a new URL. This ensures search engines update their index and transfer SEO value to the new location.

Choose a 302 redirect when the move is temporary, such as during site maintenance, A/B testing, or short-term promotions. This keeps the original URL indexed and avoids losing SEO value.

Using the correct redirect type helps maintain your site's SEO health and provides a clear signal to search engines and users.

Key Takeaways

Use 301 redirects for permanent URL changes to transfer SEO value.

Use 302 redirects for temporary moves to keep the original URL indexed.

Incorrect redirect types can harm your search rankings and user experience.

301 redirects are cached longer by browsers than 302 redirects.

Always match redirect type to your intent to maintain SEO effectiveness.