301 vs 302 Redirect: The Differences, the SEO Impact and When to Use Each

The 301 vs 302 redirect question comes up in every migration, redesign and URL cleanup. Google's documentation on redirects and Google Search explains that the redirect type is a signal for which URL should be canonical. This guide compares the codes, shows when to use each, and lists the mistakes that cost traffic. For the full topic, see our guide to SEO redirects.

What is the difference between a 301 and a 302 redirect?

According to Google, permanent redirects make the target the URL shown in search results, while temporary redirects keep the source page there; the target may still be indexed if other canonical signals point to it. The HTTP status codes themselves are defined in the web standard RFC 9110.

Do 301 and 302 redirects pass link value?

Both pass signals to the target. Google has said for years that redirects do not lose PageRank, so a 302 does not "waste" link value. The real difference is the canonical choice: with a 302, Google keeps the old URL as the main one, so the new URL may not rank in its place. If a "temporary" redirect stays in place for a long time, Google may eventually treat it like a permanent one, but relying on that is a gamble. Our glossary entries on the 301 redirect and the canonical tag detail the signals.

When should you use a 301 redirect?

• Site migration: new domain, HTTP to HTTPS, change of CMS or URL structure (see SEO migration and Google's guide to site moves with URL changes).
• Changed URL: a renamed slug or a page moved to another folder.
• Merged content: two articles on the same intent combined into one.
• Deleted page with an equivalent: a discontinued product redirected to its replacement or category.
• Preferred domain: www and non-www, trailing slash variants, all pointing to one canonical URL.

When should you use a 302 redirect?

• Temporary page: a seasonal landing page that replaces a product page for a few weeks.
• Maintenance: sending visitors to a notice while a section is offline.
• Tests: A/B tests that send part of the traffic to a variant URL.
• Out-of-stock with return planned: a short redirect to a similar product.
• Geolocation or language suggestions, used with care so Google can still crawl every version.

Common redirect mistakes

How to set up a 301 or 302 redirect

On most CMSs, a redirect manager or plugin handles it; on servers, rules in the web server configuration (Apache, Nginx) or the hosting dashboard; on frameworks, the routing or middleware. Whatever the method, choose the code deliberately, test it, and keep a list of redirects so they survive the next redesign (see website redesign SEO). The canonical checker confirms that the target page declares itself as canonical.

The bottom line

Use a 301 when the move is final and a 302 when you will switch back; both pass signals, and the difference is which URL Google keeps. Keep redirects direct, update internal links, and audit them after every migration. Sorank, SEO and GEO software that runs on autopilot, keeps publishing and linking content on clean URLs once your structure is set; see the Sorank plans, with a 3-day free trial. For the indexing side, read Google indexing.