Learning how to generate hreflang tags is an important part of managing a multilingual or international website. When your content is available in different languages or regions, search engines need clear information about the relationship between those pages.
For example, an online business may offer separate service pages for customers in the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany. Although these pages describe similar services, each version serves a different audience.
Hreflang annotations help Google understand those differences. However, generating the code is only one part of the process. Accurate URLs, valid language codes, and reciprocal references are equally important.
Therefore, this guide explains how to generate hreflang tags, implement them correctly, and avoid common international SEO mistakes.
What Are Hreflang Tags and Why Do They Matter?
Hreflang annotations identify alternate versions of a page intended for different languages or geographical regions.
For instance, a website may have English content for American visitors and another English version for British customers.
Although both pages use the same language, their currencies, shipping information, or regional details may differ.
In this situation, hreflang helps Google understand which URLs belong to the same group of regional alternatives.
However, hreflang does not automatically redirect visitors. Instead, it provides information that Google can use when selecting an appropriate search result.
For a detailed explanation, read the Degates Hreflang Tags Guide.
What Do You Need Before Generating Hreflang Tags?
Before creating any markup, prepare a list of the pages that serve as genuine alternatives to one another.
For example, imagine a business offering the same service in three markets.
| Target audience | Example URL | Hreflang value |
|---|---|---|
| United States | https://example.com/us/services/ | en-US |
| United Kingdom | https://example.com/uk/services/ | en-GB |
| German-speaking users | https://example.com/de/dienstleistungen/ | de |
First, confirm that each URL loads correctly and contains content relevant to its intended audience.
Next, check whether the pages are intended to be indexed by search engines.
Additionally, review the language and regional codes before generating the annotations.
Understand Language and Region Codes
Hreflang values normally include a language code. When necessary, you can also add a regional code.
Common examples include:
en— Englishen-US— English for the United Statesen-GB— English for the United Kingdomde— Germanfr-FR— French for Francees— Spanish
For example, en-US identifies a page intended for US English users.
By comparison, en identifies English-language content without specifying a particular country.
Therefore, choose regional values only when your website genuinely targets those regions.
How to Generate Hreflang Tags Step by Step
Generating hreflang annotations becomes easier when you follow a consistent process.
The steps below cover everything from URL selection to implementation testing.
Step 1: Identify Equivalent Page Versions
Start by collecting the URLs of pages that represent the same content in different languages or regions.
For example, an English product page should normally be paired with its corresponding German or French product page.
However, an English homepage should not be grouped with an unrelated German product page.
Consequently, accurate page mapping is essential for a reliable hreflang implementation.
Step 2: Select the Correct Language Codes
Once your page list is ready, assign an appropriate hreflang value to each URL.
For instance, use en-US for a US English page and en-GB for a UK English page.
Meanwhile, a German-language page without country-specific targeting can use de.
Avoid unsupported codes or country codes without a language identifier.
Step 3: Open the Degates Hreflang Generator
Next, visit the Degates Free Hreflang Tag Generator.
Enter the relevant alternate URLs and their corresponding language or regional values.
Afterward, generate the required markup using the available tool options.
Before copying the output, review the URLs and codes for accuracy.
Step 4: Review the Generated HTML Tags
A basic hreflang implementation for three alternate pages might look like this:
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="en-US" href="https://example.com/us/services/" />
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="en-GB" href="https://example.com/uk/services/" />
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="de" href="https://example.com/de/dienstleistungen/" />In this example, each annotation identifies a specific language or regional version.
Importantly, the same complete alternate group should appear on each relevant page when using HTML implementation.
Additionally, each page should include a reference to itself.
Step 5: Add Hreflang Tags to Your Website
After generating the markup, choose an appropriate implementation method.
Google supports three common approaches:
- HTML link annotations
- XML sitemap annotations
- HTTP headers
For HTML implementation, place the alternate link elements inside the document’s <head> section.
Alternatively, XML sitemap annotations can be useful when managing a large number of international URLs.
HTTP headers are another supported option, particularly for non-HTML resources.
However, you do not need to implement the same alternate relationships through all three methods.
Step 6: Check Reciprocal Hreflang References
Hreflang relationships should work in both directions.
For example, if the US page references the German version, the German page should also reference the US version.
Similarly, both pages should include their own URLs within the alternate group.
Otherwise, Google may ignore incomplete relationships.
Therefore, checking return annotations is an important part of implementation.
Step 7: Validate the Published Tags
Finally, inspect the live website rather than relying only on the WordPress editor.
Review the page source or XML sitemap, depending on your implementation method.
Additionally, check the following:
- Alternate URLs are correct.
- Language and regional codes are valid.
- Pages contain self-referencing annotations.
- Reciprocal references are present.
- Destination URLs load successfully.
- Canonical tags support the intended indexing strategy.
- Important pages are accessible to search engine crawlers.
Once these checks are complete, continue monitoring the affected pages.
Common Mistakes When Generating Hreflang Tags
Even a small mistake can make international SEO more difficult.
Therefore, review the following problems before publishing your annotations.
Using Incorrect or Outdated URLs
A single typing error can point search engines toward the wrong page.
Similarly, an old URL may redirect after a website migration.
To avoid these problems, use the correct destination URLs and verify them before implementation.
Forgetting Self-Referencing Tags
Each page should identify itself within its alternate group.
For example, the US version should include its own en-US annotation alongside the other language versions.
As a result, the alternate group remains consistent.
Missing Reciprocal References
If one page references another, the relationship should also appear in the opposite direction.
Otherwise, the intended hreflang relationship may not be used by Google.
For additional troubleshooting, see Hreflang Return Tag Errors and Fixes.
Using Hreflang for Unrelated Pages
Hreflang should connect equivalent content rather than unrelated pages.
For instance, a French contact page should not be paired with an English pricing page.
Instead, identify the corresponding page for each language or region.
Ignoring Canonical Tags
Canonical and hreflang annotations perform different functions.
While hreflang identifies language or regional alternatives, canonical tags indicate preferred URLs among duplicate or similar content.
Consequently, conflicting canonical settings may interfere with your international targeting strategy.
Read Hreflang vs Canonical Tags for a practical comparison.
Should You Generate Hreflang Tags in HTML or XML Sitemaps?
Both HTML annotations and XML sitemaps are supported methods for implementing hreflang.
However, the most suitable option depends on your website’s technical setup.
HTML Hreflang Implementation
HTML annotations appear within the <head> section of individual pages.
This method can be convenient when your website theme or multilingual plugin generates the markup automatically.
Additionally, developers can inspect the output directly in the page source.
XML Sitemap Hreflang Implementation
XML sitemaps can store alternate URL relationships centrally.
Therefore, this approach may be easier to maintain for websites with many translated pages.
However, the sitemap must contain valid XML and complete alternate mappings.
Which Method Is Better for SEO?
Neither method provides an automatic ranking advantage.
Instead, correct implementation, accurate URL mappings, and reliable maintenance matter most.
Choose the method that your website can manage consistently.
How to Test Generated Hreflang Tags
After implementation, test the annotations to identify potential problems.
Inspect the Live Page Source
Open an international page and view its HTML source.
Then search for hreflang to find the alternate annotations.
If your website uses XML sitemap hreflang, inspect the corresponding sitemap instead.
Verify Language Codes
Review every language and regional value.
For example, use en-GB rather than en-UK for UK English targeting.
Additionally, confirm that each value matches the destination page.
Check Return Tags
Open the alternate pages and compare their annotation groups.
If one page references another, verify that the reverse relationship also exists.
Review Canonical URLs
Check whether canonical annotations are consistent with the intended indexing of your regional pages.
For example, independently indexable regional pages should not unintentionally canonicalize to an unrelated country version.
Monitor Search Performance
Google Search Console can help you review indexing information and search performance for important URLs.
However, it does not provide a comprehensive dedicated hreflang validation report.
Therefore, direct technical checks remain necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Generate Hreflang Tags for Multiple Countries?
Yes. A single alternate group can include several regional or language versions when the pages represent equivalent content.
However, each version should use the correct language or regional code.
Can I Generate Hreflang Tags for WordPress?
Yes. WordPress websites can implement hreflang through suitable plugins, theme functionality, or XML sitemaps.
Nevertheless, always verify the live output after making changes.
Do Hreflang Tags Improve Google Rankings?
Hreflang is not a direct ranking boost.
Instead, it helps Google understand which language or regional version may be appropriate for a particular audience.
Should Every Website Use Hreflang?
No. Websites serving only one language and one market generally do not need hreflang.
However, it can be useful when equivalent content is available for different languages or regions.
Can I Use Hreflang and Canonical Tags Together?
Yes. Many international websites use both annotations.
However, their configurations should support a consistent indexing and regional targeting strategy.
What Happens If Hreflang Tags Are Incorrect?
Google may ignore invalid or incomplete relationships.
Therefore, accurate URLs, valid codes, and reciprocal annotations are essential.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to generate hreflang tags is an important step toward improving the technical structure of an international website.
However, successful implementation involves more than producing HTML markup.
Accurate page mapping, valid language codes, reciprocal references, and technical validation are equally important.
Therefore, review your alternate URLs carefully before publishing changes.
To prepare your annotations, use the Degates Free Hreflang Tag Generator.
For additional guidance, explore the Hreflang Tags Guide and Google’s official documentation on localized versions.
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