Add your guide’s name, supplies, tools, time, cost and steps. Copy valid schema.org HowTo JSON-LD and paste it into the tutorial page <head>. Type “1 h 30 min” and get PT1H30M. Free, no sign-up, and nothing leaves your browser.
HowTo schema is structured data, based on the schema.org HowTo type, that describes a tutorial as an ordered list of steps, each with a title, text and optional image, plus the supplies, tools, time and cost. You add it to the tutorial page as JSON-LD.
Google removed the HowTo rich result, the step-by-step display, from desktop and mobile search in September 2023, and it has not returned. HowTo is still a valid schema.org type that other search engines and AI systems can read, but it no longer produces a distinct step snippet in Google Search.
Add it if you want your steps described in a machine-readable form. Do not expect a ranking or rich-result change from it in Google.
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "HowTo",
"name": "How to Clean a Ceramic Diffuser",
"totalTime": "PT30M",
"supply": [{ "@type": "HowToSupply",
"name": "Cleaning solution" }],
"tool": [{ "@type": "HowToTool",
"name": "Microfiber cloth" }],
"step": [{
"@type": "HowToStep",
"position": 1,
"name": "Empty the diffuser",
"text": "Unplug it and pour out any water."
}]
}A name and at least one step make valid markup. The rest add useful detail.
| Property | What it describes | Priority |
|---|---|---|
name | The title of the guide | Required |
step | HowToStep items in order, each with text | Required |
description, image | A short summary and crawlable images | Recommended |
totalTime | Duration of the whole process, in ISO 8601 | Recommended |
supply, tool | Consumable items and reusable items needed | Recommended |
estimatedCost, video | Cost as a MonetaryAmount, and one guide video | Optional |
step.name, step.image | A short title and an image for each step | Optional |
Both describe what a reader needs before starting, but they are two kinds of item.
Consumable items used up during the task, such as cleaning solution, glue or ingredients. Each becomes a HowToSupply object.
Reusable items the reader needs but does not use up, such as a screwdriver, a cloth or a mixing bowl. Each becomes a HowToTool object.
totalTime uses an ISO 8601 duration. It starts with PT, then hours with H and minutes with M. This tool converts plain times for you.
estimatedCost is a MonetaryAmount with a numeric value and a 3-letter currency code. Both describe the whole process, not a single step.
| You type | Output |
|---|---|
| 15 min | PT15M |
| 1 h 30 min | PT1H30M |
| 1:30 | PT1H30M |
| 45 | PT45M |
| 2 hours | PT2H |
The generator does the writing. These four steps take you from a blank form to tested markup.
Enter the guide’s name, a short summary and the page URL.
Add consumables as supplies and reusable items as tools.
Add each step with a title, a description and an optional image.
Paste the script into the page head, then run the Schema.org validator.
Add one HowTo block per tutorial page, and make sure every step’s text matches what is written on the page.
Short answers on rich results, required fields and placement.
HowTo schema describes a tutorial as an ordered list of steps, plus supplies, tools, time and cost. It gives search engines and AI systems a machine-readable version of your instructions.
No. Google removed the HowTo rich result from desktop and mobile search in September 2023, and it has not returned. HowTo is still a valid schema.org type and adding it does no harm, but it no longer produces a step-by-step snippet.
A name and at least one step with a description. A title for each step, images, supplies, tools, time and cost are optional but make the markup more complete.
Supplies are consumable items used up during the task, such as cleaning solution or ingredients. Tools are reusable items the reader needs but does not use up, such as a screwdriver or a bowl.
totalTime uses ISO 8601 duration format. For example, PT30M means 30 minutes and PT1H means 1 hour. It describes the whole process, not a single step.
Yes. Each step can have an optional image. A single video for the whole guide can also be added at the top level.
There is no confirmed evidence that AI Overviews rely on HowTo markup rather than the visible page text. Clear, well-labelled steps on the page matter whether or not you add the schema.
Yes. It is completely free, with no sign-up and no limit. Everything runs in your browser, so your tutorial content is never uploaded to a server.
Tutorial pages work best with article, video and FAQ markup alongside.
Search Savvy’s technical SEO team implements and monitors schema across every template, and fixes the technical issues that hold your site back.