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Canonical URL Checker

Verify canonical tag implementation across your website. Find missing, incorrect, or conflicting canonical URLs that could cause duplicate content issues.

Check Canonical Tags

Enter one or more URLs to verify their canonical tag implementation

Results Summary

Overview of canonical tag status across checked URLs

Enter URLs and click "Check Canonical Tags" to see results

What is a Canonical URL?

A canonical URL (also called "rel canonical") is an HTML element that tells search engines which version of a URL you want to appear in search results. It's used to prevent duplicate content issues when similar or identical content is accessible through multiple URLs.

The canonical tag looks like this in your HTML:

<link rel="canonical" href="https://example.com/preferred-url" />

It should be placed in the <head> section of your HTML document.

Common Canonical Issues

  • Missing Canonical Tag
    No canonical tag present, risking duplicate content indexing
  • Multiple Canonical Tags
    More than one canonical tag confuses search engines
  • Relative URLs
    Using relative instead of absolute URLs (less reliable)
  • Canonical Chain
    Canonical pointing to another page that has a different canonical

Canonical Tag Best Practices for SEO

Follow these guidelines to implement canonical tags correctly

Do's

  • Use absolute URLs (include https:// and full domain)
  • Include self-referencing canonicals on every page
  • Use consistent URL format (with or without trailing slash)
  • Place canonical tag in the head section
  • Point to the HTTPS version of URLs
  • Align canonical with hreflang tags for international sites

Don'ts

  • Don't use multiple canonical tags on one page
  • Don't canonical to pages with noindex
  • Don't canonical to redirecting URLs
  • Don't create canonical chains (A→B→C)
  • Don't use relative URLs for canonicals
  • Don't canonical significantly different content

When Should You Use Canonical Tags?

Duplicate Content

When the same content exists on multiple URLs (www vs non-www, HTTP vs HTTPS, trailing slash variations)

URL Parameters

When tracking parameters, sorting options, or filters create multiple URLs for the same content

Syndicated Content

When your content is republished on other sites and you want to maintain the original as authoritative

Pagination

For paginated series where you want to consolidate ranking signals to a main page

Mobile/AMP Pages

When you have separate mobile or AMP versions that should point to the desktop canonical

Product Variations

E-commerce sites with color/size variations that have near-identical product pages

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between canonical and redirect?

A canonical tag is a hint to search engines about which URL to index, while users can still access both URLs. A redirect (301/302) physically moves users and search engines from one URL to another. Use canonicals for slight variations and redirects for permanent URL changes. Use our Redirect Checker to analyze your redirect chains.

Should every page have a canonical tag?

Yes, it's best practice to include a self-referencing canonical tag on every indexable page. This explicitly tells search engines the preferred URL and prevents issues with URL parameters or tracking codes.

Can I canonical to a different domain?

Yes, cross-domain canonicals are supported and useful for syndicated content. However, use them carefully as you're telling Google to ignore your page in favor of another domain's version.

How long does it take for Google to process canonical tags?

It can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks for Google to process canonical tag changes, depending on how frequently Google crawls your site. Use Google Search Console to monitor indexing.

What if Google ignores my canonical tag?

Google treats canonical tags as hints, not directives. Google may choose a different canonical if your pages have significantly different content, conflicting signals, or if the canonical URL isn't crawlable. Ensure your canonicals align with other signals like internal links and sitemaps. You can use our Technical SEO Audit to check for conflicting signals.

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