Are 404 Errors a Google Ranking Factor?
Quick Answer
No, 404 errors are not a direct ranking factor in Google's search algorithm. Google's official documentation confirms that the presence of 404 errors on a site does not negatively impact the rankings of other pages that return successful (200) status codes. However, individual pages returning a 404 status code will not be indexed by Google, and if they were previously indexed, they will be removed from the index.
What About Soft 404 Errors?
Soft 404s are a related issue where a page returns a 200 (success) status code but displays content indicating the page doesn't exist (e.g., an error message or empty page). Google detects these algorithmically and treats them like true 404s, excluding them from indexing.
Unlike true 404s, soft 404s can confuse crawlers and are considered worse because they don't clearly signal an error. Google recommends avoiding them by ensuring error pages return the proper 404 or 410 status code.
Indirect Impacts of 404 Errors on SEO
While not a direct factor, 404 errors can have indirect effects on a site's SEO performance:
Wasted Crawl Budget
Excessive 404s can consume Google's crawl budget (the number of pages it crawls on your site), potentially delaying the discovery and indexing of new or important content.
User Experience (UX) Issues
Users encountering 404 pages may bounce back to search results, increasing bounce rates and signaling poor quality to Google, which could indirectly influence rankings over time.
Lost Link Equity
If a 404 page had inbound backlinks and isn't redirected (e.g., via 301), the link value (PageRank) is lost, which could reduce the authority passed to your site.
Site Authority and Trust
A high volume of 404s might make a site appear neglected, potentially affecting overall perceived quality, though this isn't a direct penalty.
Broken Internal Links
Links within your site pointing to 404 pages disrupt navigation, harming UX and crawl efficiency.
Some sources, like agency blogs, emphasize these indirect negatives more strongly, suggesting they can lead to broader SEO issues if not addressed. However, Google's direct statements prioritize that 404s are a "normal part of a healthy website" and should not be feared.
Best Practices for Handling 404 Errors
To minimize any potential indirect issues:
Monitor Errors
Use Google Search Console to identify 404s in the Page Indexing report.
Fix Broken Links
Update or remove internal/external links pointing to non-existent pages.
Use 301 Redirects
For moved content, redirect to a relevant replacement page to preserve link equity. Avoid redirecting to unrelated pages or the homepage, as this creates poor UX.
Create Custom 404 Pages
Design user-friendly 404 pages with navigation, search bars, or suggestions to reduce bounces.
Ignore Harmless 404s
If the URLs shouldn't exist (e.g., from spam or old campaigns), safely ignore them, as they don't harm rankings.
Avoid Soft 404s
Ensure error pages return a true 404 code, not 200.
In summary, while 404 errors won't directly tank your site's rankings, proactive management helps maintain optimal SEO health by addressing indirect concerns like UX and crawl efficiency. This view is supported by Google's longstanding guidance and expert analyses as of 2025.