Is 308 better than 301 for SEO?

For ordinary page moves, search engines treat 301 and 308 equivalently as permanent redirects and consolidate signals onto the target. 308 is preferable only when the request method must be preserved, such as POST or API endpoints.

Crawl diagnostics

HTTP 308 vs 301 for SEO

301 and 308 both signal a permanent move and let search engines consolidate signals onto the new URL. The difference is method handling: 301 has historically been treated loosely, while 308 strictly preserves the request method and body. For ordinary GET page moves either works; 308 is safer when the method must not change.

Verified against primary sources

The core difference

301 Moved Permanently and 308 Permanent Redirect both tell clients and crawlers that a resource has permanently moved to the URL in the Location header. Search engines treat both as permanent and consolidate the old URL's signals onto the target over repeated crawls.

The distinction is method handling. With 301, some clients have historically changed the request method (for example turning a POST into a GET) when following the redirect. 308 forbids that: the method and body are preserved exactly.

When to use each

For the common case — permanently moving GET-able pages during a URL or domain migration — both 301 and 308 are treated equivalently by search crawlers, and 301 is the most widely recognised choice. Use 308 when the request method genuinely must be preserved across the redirect, such as API endpoints or POST flows where downgrading to GET would break behaviour.

In all cases, map each old URL to its true equivalent, keep redirects to a single hop, and update internal links to point straight at the final target.

301 — permanent, broadly recognised; method historically loose
308 — permanent, method and body strictly preserved
Page migrations: either works; APIs/POST flows: prefer 308

Operator checklist

Pick one permanent-redirect status and apply it consistently. For plain page moves, 301 is fine; for method-sensitive endpoints, use 308. Avoid chains and loops, point links at the final URL, and confirm crawlers consolidate onto the new location over time.

How it appears in analytics and logs

Both 301 and 308 are permanent redirects crawlers follow and consolidate onto the target. A 308 additionally guarantees the method is preserved, so a POST stays a POST — relevant for non-GET endpoints, less so for simple page moves.

Diagnostic use case

Choose between 301 and 308 for a permanent redirect, balancing broad crawler familiarity (301) against strict method preservation (308).

What WebmasterID can help detect

WebmasterID can show whether your permanent redirects use 301 or 308 and where, helping you confirm a migration is consistent and points straight at final URLs.

Common mistakes

Assuming 301 always preserves the method — it historically may not.
Mixing 301 and 308 inconsistently across a single migration.
Chaining redirects instead of pointing each old URL at its final target.

Privacy and accuracy notes

Redirect status codes carry no personal data. WebmasterID reports redirect patterns for crawler traffic without exposing individual visitors.

Frequently asked questions

Is 308 better than 301 for SEO?: For ordinary page moves, search engines treat 301 and 308 equivalently as permanent redirects and consolidate signals onto the target. 308 is preferable only when the request method must be preserved, such as POST or API endpoints.

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Sources and verification notes

Last reviewed 2026-06-24. Facts are checked against primary/official sources where available; uncertain specifics are marked “Data not yet verified” rather than guessed.