A canonical loop happens when multiple canonical tags point to each other instead of one clear URL. This confuses search engines and can harm indexing.
Understanding Canonical Loops
A canonical loop is a subtle but critical SEO issue. It happens when two or more pages on a website point to each other as canonical URLs, either directly or indirectly.
Canonical tags are designed to signal to Google which version of a page is the “master” copy, helping consolidate ranking signals and avoid duplicate content penalties. However, when a loop forms, search engines can’t determine the primary page. This can lead to:
Diluted SEO authority across multiple pages.
Indexing confusion, where Google may ignore some pages.
Reduced visibility in search results.
Canonical loops are especially common on large websites with complex navigation, e-commerce product variations, or multi-language versions. Understanding, detecting, and fixing these loops is essential for long-term SEO health.
Canonical Loops Across Different CMS Platforms
WordPress
Commonly occurs with SEO plugins that auto-generate canonical tags.
Large e-commerce or membership sites often have duplicate pages from variations or categories.
Tip: Check plugin settings and avoid manual canonical overrides that may create loops.
Shopify
Product variants or collection pages sometimes point to each other as canonicals.
Ensure your main product page is always the canonical URL to consolidate ranking signals.
Wix / Webflow
Loops are less common but can appear after duplicating pages or incorrect redirects.
Always verify canonical tags after cloning pages or implementing URL structures.
Custom CMS
Dynamic pages, faceted navigation, or filters can unintentionally create loops.
Developers should enforce clear canonical rules and maintain documentation for complex sites.
Canonical Loops in Different Industries
Ecommerce
High potential for loops due to multiple product variants, filtered collections, or seasonal versions.
Consequence: Diluted rankings for best-selling products.
Example: A shirt product page with color variants pointing to each other as canonical.
Local Businesses
Service pages for different locations may duplicate content and create loops.
Impact: Local SEO performance can suffer if Google can’t identify the main location page.
SaaS / Tech Sites
Feature pages or multiple landing pages for the same product often encounter canonical issues.
Fix: Identify the authoritative landing page and set consistent canonical tags.
Blogs / Content Sites
Syndicated or duplicated content can lead to loops.
Fix: Use the canonical tag to point back to the original post to consolidate authority.
Do’s & Don’ts / Best Practices
Do
Ensure only one canonical URL exists per page.
Regularly audit your website for duplicate content and conflicting canonicals.
Use SEO tools like Screaming Frog, Ahrefs, or SEMrush to detect loops.
Don’t
Point multiple pages to each other as canonicals.
Ignore auto-generated canonical tags in CMS plugins.
Use canonicals as a substitute for proper 301 redirects.
Best Practices
Keep site hierarchy simple and logical.
Implement 301 redirects for permanently moved pages instead of canonical loops.
Document canonical decisions for large, complex websites.
Test canonical implementation after migrations, redesigns, or adding new pages.
FAQs
What is a Canonical Loop in SEO?
A canonical loop occurs when two or more pages on a website reference each other as their canonical URL. This creates a circular reference, confusing search engines about which page is the authoritative version. Consequently, search engines may ignore the canonical tags entirely, leading to indexing issues.
How Does a Canonical Loop Affect SEO?
Canonical loops can harm SEO by:
Preventing proper indexing of pages.
Diluting link equity across multiple pages.
Causing search engines to overlook intended canonical URLs.
Potentially leading to duplicate content issues.
These factors can negatively impact search engine rankings and visibility.
What Causes a Canonical Loop?
Canonical loops typically arise from:
Incorrectly set canonical tags pointing to each other.
Conflicting redirects that contradict canonical tags.
Misconfigured content management systems (CMS) or plugins.
These issues create a loop that confuses search engines about the preferred page.
How Can You Identify a Canonical Loop?
To detect canonical loops:
Use SEO auditing tools like Screaming Frog or Sitebulb to crawl your site and identify canonical tag configurations.
Manually check the
<link rel="canonical">tags in the HTML<head>sections of your pages.Look for pages that reference each other as canonical URLs, indicating a loop.
How Can You Fix a Canonical Loop?
To resolve a canonical loop:
Ensure each page has a canonical tag pointing to the correct, intended URL.
Avoid mutual references between pages; each canonical tag should point to a single, definitive page.
Regularly audit your site for canonical issues using SEO tools.
Consult with a developer if the issue stems from CMS or server configurations.
