How many sections should a homepage have?

Key takeaways

How many sections a homepage needs depends on what buyers must know, but most SMEs land on five to eight. Each section should answer one question. If two answer the same one, merge them. If a section answers nobody's question, remove it. The count is a result of your plan, never a target.

• Five to eight sections suit most SMEs.
• Each section should answer one buyer question.
• Merge sections that answer the same question.
• Move detail to inner pages rather than stacking it.

How many sections should a homepage have?

Most small business homepages work with five to eight sections, as a Global Bridge Labs (GBL) rule of thumb: hero, proof, services, how it works, further proof, FAQ and closing action. Simple local services may need four. Complex B2B firms may need more. What matters is that each one earns its place on the page.

• How to create a high-converting homepage for an SME
• Homepage structure for a small business website
• How long should a homepage be?

How do you decide what stays?

List the questions a buyer needs answered before contacting you, then match one section to each. Remove any section that exists because a template included it or because someone internally asked for it. If a section was added for an internal reason, ask what a buyer would lose without it.

• The five questions every homepage visitor needs answered
• Which homepage sections can you leave out?

What happens when there are too many sections?

Attention falls as the page goes on. Nielsen Norman Group found 74% of viewing time falls within the first two screenfuls, so stacking sections mostly pushes useful content out of sight. Long pages also load more slowly on phones, and visitors find it harder to see what matters most.

• Homepage too heavy? What to cut from the page weight
• Homepage scroll depth: how far visitors really go

Can a homepage have too few sections?

Yes. A hero and a contact form may be too thin for anyone who needs reassurance. If buyers are spending real money, or the service is unfamiliar, they need proof and process before they will act. A short page works when the reader already knows and trusts what you offer.

• The minimum viable homepage: what to ship first
• How long should a web page be? Long vs short pages

When should a section become its own page?

Move a section to its own page when it needs more than a few lines to do its job, or when it attracts a different audience. Careers, detailed pricing and full case studies usually fit this rule. Keep a short summary and a link on the homepage, so that visitors know where to find it.

• Homepage to service page: the click that matters most
• Job seekers, suppliers and customers: clear the homepage

What does this look like in practice?

A pattern we see: a homepage grows to 14 sections over several years, as each new idea was added and nothing was ever removed. Mapping every section to a buyer question usually shows several doing the same job, and merging them often makes the page feel like it has been redesigned.

• See client work
• Website Design & Development for UK businesses

Homepage section count checklist

• List the buyer's questions.
• Match one section to each question.
• Merge duplicates.
• Remove internal-only sections.
• Link out to detail.
• Check the page on a phone.

• Choose between two homepage headlines without an A/B test
• A portfolio section that shows your best work

Next step

Write the question each section answers beside it. Any section where you cannot think of one is a candidate for removal.