301 Redirect Generator
301 Redirect Bulk/Batch Generator for .htaccess files
Looking to generate a list of 301 redirect rules to add to your .htaccess file?
Here’s a simple tool to let you do just that. We use this ourselves when launching a new website, and it’s a piece of cake to use. Code licensed via GitHub.
- Create a spreadsheet
- In Column 1 put your previous URL
- In Column 2 put the new URL
- Copy all of the cells
- Paste them in the URL’s box below and click Generate!
If you’re looking for an app to help you actually match the URLS, try Rapid301. Then come back here to help create the .htaccess rules.
URLs (old & new)
Sample URL’s shown below. Remove and add your own:
Copied!
What is a 301 redirect?
A 301 redirect is the permanent moving of a web page from one location to another, and the 301 number refers to the HTTP status code of the redirected page.
In simple terms, a 301 redirect tells your internet browser that “This page has moved to a new location on a permanent basis and we don’t intend on moving it back.” – and then your browser sends you to the new webpage.
What is a .htaccess file?
A .htaccess file is a text file that controls how a webserver responds to various requests. It is supported by all common webservers, including the popular Apache webserver used by most commercial hosting providers.
Common uses for .htaccess include redirecting URLs, enabling password protection for web pages, and displaying custom error pages such as 404 pages.
Why are 301 redirects necessary?
301 redirects are one of the main elements that SEO experts use on a regular basis. You can fix broken links with them, but you can also create redirect loops which can affect indexability if done wrong.
If you have a certain amount of backlinks pointing to a URL which now no longer exists, you’re also losing all the lovely link juice benefits passing on to your site.
Search engines want to provide the best possible experience for users, so if their results direct people to broken 404 pages, that’s bad. Once a page gets indexed, then it will appear somewhere in the search results when you search for it. If Google or other search engines consistently see a page with a 404 error, they will remove it from their index.
So this is obviously bad for your website as you’re losing important traffic, and it’s also bad for the user because they are missing out on your content.
How do I get a list of old and new URLs?
Mapping old URLs to new ones is essential during a website redesign, migration, or content restructure.
From an SEO perspective, setting up 301 redirects ensures that you maintain your existing search engine rankings, avoid 404 errors, and preserve any backlink equity pointing to your old pages. Without a proper redirect plan, you risk losing traffic and damaging your site’s search visibility.
Start by exporting a full list of your existing URLs using a tool like Screaming Frog or your CMS.
Then, create a spreadsheet with two columns: one for old URLs and one for their most relevant new counterparts. Redirecting each old URL to the most contextually appropriate new page (rather than just the homepage) is key to keeping users and search engines happy.
When compiling your list, keep these best practices in mind:
Use relative URLs (e.g. /old-page, /new-page) unless absolute URLs are required
Always redirect to the most relevant new page, not just a generic one
Avoid redirect chains – each old URL should point directly to the final destination
Once your list is ready, paste it into our tool to instantly generate clean, SEO-friendly 301 redirect rules.
I have 1000s of URLs to match. Are there any tools or apps that can help me?
If you have a large list of URL’s and it’s not easy to map the old ones to the new ones you can use a brilliant tool like Rapid301.
Rapid301 lets you map 1000’s of redirects in seconds, using AI to intelligently match the URL’s together.
Give it a go!
To find out how we can help you get great results, give us a ring on: 0161 713 1700
Or email us at: [email protected]