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What is the difference between a 301 and a 302 redirect? A 301 tells search engines a page has moved for good, while a 302 says the move is only temporary. Getting a 301 vs 302 redirect decision wrong can leave old URLs in search results and strand the rankings your page earned.
ReachGiant is a digital marketing company, and sorting out redirects is part of our technical SEO work. The sections below make the choice simple and show where each type fits.
A redirect sends visitors and search engines from one URL to another. The status code behind it explains why. A 301 means moved permanently, and a 302 means found, which is shorthand for a temporary move.
Every redirect is either temporary or permanent, so the temporary vs permanent redirect question drives everything else. Visitors cannot tell the difference, because both land on the new page. Search engines can, and Google’s documentation on redirects treats a permanent redirect as a signal that the destination should be the canonical URL.
A temporary redirect works differently. It keeps the original page as the one shown in results, and the destination may still be indexed if other signals point there.
Use a 301 whenever a page has moved for good. Typical cases include a new URL structure, a merged page, a retired product that now points to its replacement, and a switch from HTTP to HTTPS.
The goal is to pass the old page’s value to the new one. A 301 tells Google to consolidate signals at the destination, which protects the link equity and backlinks the old URL earned. Point it at the closest equivalent page, not the homepage.
If no close equivalent exists, a 404 may serve visitors better. Our guide to 404 errors and SEO explains why.
A 301 does not freeze your rankings in place. Google needs to recrawl the old URL, follow the redirect, and consolidate signals at the destination. Expect some movement while that happens.
301 redirect SEO results depend heavily on relevance. When the new page closely matches the old one, signals consolidate cleanly. When it does not, Google may treat the redirect like a soft 404 and ignore it.
Keep the redirect in place for as long as the old URL has links or traffic. Pulling it early can undo the work.
When to use a 302 redirect comes down to one question, which is whether the original page is coming back. If it is, a 302 keeps the old URL as the one search engines show. Seasonal pages, maintenance windows, and short A/B tests are the classic fits.
Picture a store that redirects its sale page to a gift guide for two weeks. A 302 lets the sale page stay the URL people find, and it returns to normal once the promotion ends.
A temporary redirect is not a place to park a permanent move. Ahrefs notes that signals from a long-running temporary redirect can eventually consolidate forward, but there is no set timeline for that. Relying on that delay is slower and less predictable than using a 301.
Most redirect problems come from a few repeat mistakes.
Redirect chains and redirect loops are easy to miss. A chain sends a visitor through several hops before reaching the final page, and a loop never reaches it at all. Run a crawl after any large change, and our guide to a technical SEO audit shows how.
This 301 vs 302 redirect table sorts the common situations.
A 308 works like a 301, and a 307 works like a 302, except that both keep the original HTTP method. Most site owners never need them. When in doubt, choose the permanent option for permanent moves and the temporary option for anything you plan to reverse.
Never assume a redirect works as intended. Plugins, platform settings, and server rules can quietly apply the wrong code. A crawler or redirect checker shows the exact status code for every URL.
Then check how Google sees the old and new URLs in Search Console, which our guide on how to use Google Search Console covers. Recheck after a few weeks to confirm the new URL has replaced the old one in results.
Large clean-ups go faster with ongoing SEO support that tracks every redirect.
So, what is the difference between a 301 and a 302 redirect? A 301 says the move is permanent, and a 302 says it is temporary. In any 301 vs 302 redirect choice, ask whether the old page is coming back.
To talk through a redirect plan for your own site, reach out to ReachGiant.
Which is better for SEO, a 301 or a 302 redirect?
Neither is better overall. Use a 301 for permanent moves so signals consolidate at the new URL, and a 302 only when the original page will return.
Does a 302 redirect pass link equity?
Google can follow a 302, but it treats the redirect as a weak signal that the original URL should stay indexed. For permanent moves, use a 301 so signals consolidate at the destination.
When should I use a 302 redirect?
Use it for moves you plan to reverse, such as seasonal pages, short maintenance windows, or A/B tests. If the original page is never coming back, choose a 301.
Can a 302 redirect hurt SEO?
It can when it replaces a 301 on a permanent move. The old URL may stay in search results, and the new page may be slower to take over.
How long should I keep a 301 redirect?
Keep it for as long as the old URL still receives links or traffic, which often means permanently. Removing it early can bring back a 404.
What are 307 and 308 redirects?
They are the method-preserving versions of a 302 and a 301. A 307 is temporary and a 308 is permanent, and both keep the original request method, such as POST.
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