How to Create an Excellent 404 Page
No one expects website visitors to linger on error pages, but this actually happens quite often—especially on 404 pages. So, you can design your 404 error page to be more engaging and not make users eager to leave.
What Makes a Good 404 Error Page?
A good 404 error page should be memorable and not frustrating. The design process can also be fun. So, how can you design an excellent 404 page for your website? Here are some tips, tricks, and examples.
What Is a 404 Error Page?
When a website visitor lands on a page that doesn’t exist, a 404 error page is displayed. This can happen if the page has been removed, there’s a server or network connection failure, or the user clicked a bad link or entered an incorrect URL.
Typically, a 404 error page will display one of the following messages:
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404 Not Found
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HTTP 404
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Not Found
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404 Error
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The page cannot be found
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The requested URL was not found on this server
When designing a 404 page, you have two options: a generic 404 page or a custom 404 page. A generic page simply displays the above messages without any design. A custom page, however, requires you to design it and provide options. To do this, you need access to the main server. (We won’t go into detail on this, but you can learn more at A List Apart.)
An excellent 404 error page should inform users what to do next when they accidentally land on it. It should provide useful information to help visitors stay on your site and find what they need. (It’s even better if the page itself is well-designed.)
Essential Elements
To be effective, a 404 error page should be simple. It should explain that an error has occurred (obviously) and what users can do to leave the page.
Avoid using a lot of technical jargon on the 404 page. (Otherwise, you might scare users away.) In fact, you shouldn’t even use the headline “404 Error,” because many users won’t understand what it means. Instead, display more meaningful information, such as “Page Not Found.”
Here are some other important elements that a 404 page should include:
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Conspicuous Title or Text: Explain to users why they’re seeing the current page. It’s frustrating to open a web page that’s not what you expected. Make sure users know that the page they opened is incorrect, but the website itself is fine.
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Search: Provide the same search functionality on the 404 error page as on the rest of the website (and in the same location). This way, users can search for the page they want to visit.
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Links to the Home Page and Sitemap: This design element can include headers or footers that match the rest of the website. Other Simplified Information: Consider removing complex navigation. If users land on an error page, just give them a few simple options to get to the right place. Too many options can overwhelm or confuse users.
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Conspicuous Call to Action: Tell users what to do next.
Make the 404 Page Useful
When designing a 404 page, an important part of the process is its purpose. Add features that make the page both visually appealing and useful.
Google’s Search Console provides a series of useful suggestions for what to include on a custom 404 page:
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Clearly Inform Users That the Page They’re Looking for Can’t Be Found: The language should be friendly and inviting.
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Match the Look and Feel of the Rest of the Website: Consider adding links to popular articles or posts.
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Provide a Way for Users to Report Bad Links: Make sure the web server returns an actual 404 HTTP status code when a request for a missing page is received, so it doesn’t show up in search results.
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Use the Enhance 404 Tool to Embed a Search Box in the Custom 404 Page: Use the Change of Address tool to inform Google of your website’s actions.
In addition to the above, here’s a tip for designers: Be creative. A 404 page doesn’t have to be boring, as long as the technology allows it.
Design a Purposeful 404 Page
When considering the design of a 404 error page, first think about its connection to the rest of the website. What’s the overall atmosphere and tone of your website? How can the 404 page match it?
A good error page should seamlessly integrate with the rest of the website. If your website has a light-hearted and humorous tone, the 404 page should reflect that. Also, use consistent colors and graphics. But be careful not to blame users for landing on the error page. (This happens more often than you think.)
The design of the error page should be part of the overall design scheme.
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Maintain Consistency: Use the same colors, fonts, and graphic styles as the rest of the website. Keep the branding consistent. Using the same logo, headers, and footer treatments can help users recognize your website.
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Keep It Visually Simple: On the error page, less is more. Don’t make users scroll. The design should fit on one screen. Avoid too many gimmicks. While it’s a good idea to match the overall tone and feel of the website and brand, too much content can distract users from what they were originally looking for.
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Apologize: It’s perfectly fine to apologize when users land on an error page. If your website requires login, consider adding a login feature. (Was the error caused because the user needed to log in?)
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Be Creative or Fun: Don’t forget to test the page first. Make sure all users can understand your design. If you use the term “404 error,” add another line of text to explain what it means or what users should do next.
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