Pick a head & click
Choose the male or female 3D head, turn it to the angle that matches where you feel pain, then click that exact spot. Repeat for every area — forehead, temple, behind the eye, crown, or back of the head.
Interactive 3D headache location chart & head pain diagram
Show exactly where it hurts — and how deep.
Build a headache location chart on a rotatable 3D head instead of a flat drawing. Click to place a pain marker, choose the depth and pain type, switch on the X-ray view to see inside, then export a printable PNG headache chart to keep or bring to your appointment.
Click to markDepth 0–40 mmX-ray viewMale / female headPrintable PNG chartHeadache diaryNothing uploaded
Headache map generator
Drag to rotate · scroll to zoom · click the head to add a marker
Click anywhere on the head to place a marker
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How to make a headache map in three steps
Describe the pain
Set how deep it feels, its intensity, and whether it is throbbing, pressure, sharp, burning, or a dull ache. X-ray view shows a probe running from the skin to the inner marker.
Save your chart
Export a high-resolution PNG with numbered markers, a depth colour legend, your notes, and a disclaimer. Print it, keep a dated series, or show it to a clinician.
Headache location chart: what pain in 8 areas can mean
A headache location chart is a starting point for describing symptoms, not a diagnostic test. Match where it hurts and how it feels, then look at the whole pattern: what triggers it, how long it lasts, and what comes with it. Use the last column to open that area on the 3D head.
Jump to an area: Forehead headache Temple headache Headache behind the eyes Sinus headache location Top-of-head headache Back of head & neck One-sided headache Whole-head headache
| Where it hurts | How it usually feels | Often linked to | See it in 3D |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forehead headache | Steady pressure or a tight band across the front | Tension-type headache, eye strain, sinus congestion | Front view → |
| Temple headache | Pressing or throbbing on one or both sides | Tension-type headache, migraine, jaw clenching / TMJ | Side view → |
| Headache behind the eyes | Sharp, deep, boring pain centred on one eye | Cluster headache, migraine | Front view → |
| Sinus headache location (cheeks, nose & brow) | Fullness or deep facial pressure, worse leaning forward | Sinus inflammation, allergies — often actually migraine | Front view → |
| Top-of-head headache (crown) | Heavy weight or squeezing on the crown | Tension-type headache, poor sleep, posture | Top view → |
| Headache in the back of the head & neck | Ache rising from the neck, or shooting electric pain | Cervicogenic headache, occipital neuralgia, muscle tension | Back view → |
| One-sided headache (left or right) | Throbbing or pulsing, sometimes switching sides | Migraine, cluster headache | Left view → |
| Whole-head headache | Dull all-over pressure, not sharp or pulsing | Tension-type, dehydration, caffeine withdrawal, medication overuse | Front view → |
Remember: two people with the same headache type can point to different places, and the same spot can have several causes. Compare the common types by location, and check the red flag symptoms before assuming a pattern is harmless.
Types of headaches by location: primary vs secondary
Clinicians group headaches into primary headaches, where the headache itself is the condition (tension-type, migraine, cluster), and secondary headaches, which are symptoms of something else (sinus infection, neck problems, medication overuse). The cards below describe commonly reported patterns — a clinician is needed to tell them apart.
Tension-type headache
Forehead, temples, crown, back of head — often both sides
Mild to moderate pressing pain, often described as a tight band. Usually no nausea or vomiting, and daily activities remain possible. Stress, poor sleep and neck muscle tightness are frequent contributors.
Migraine
One side, temple, behind the eye — may switch sides
Moderate to severe throbbing lasting 4–72 hours, worsened by activity. Nausea, light and sound sensitivity, and sometimes a visual aura. Many people also report neck pain, which can confuse the picture.
Cluster headache
Behind or around one eye, strictly one-sided
Severe stabbing pain in attacks of 15 minutes to 3 hours, often at the same time of day for weeks. Tearing, a red eye, a runny nostril and restlessness on the same side are typical clues.
Sinus headache
Cheeks, brow, around the eyes
Deep facial pressure that worsens bending forward, usually with congestion, discoloured nasal discharge, fever or reduced smell. Many self-diagnosed sinus headaches turn out to be migraine.
Cervicogenic headache
Starts in the neck, spreads to the back of the head
Often one-sided, with a stiff neck and pain that changes with neck movement or posture. Occipital neuralgia is a related nerve pain: sharp, shooting or electric from the base of the skull over the scalp.
Medication-overuse (rebound) headache
Whole head, both sides, near-daily
A dull persistent ache when pain relievers are taken too often — commonly more than 2–3 days a week. Breaking the cycle needs medical supervision, so track how many days a month you use medication.
Headache vs migraine: the 5-4-3-2-1 screening rule
A memory aid based on the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3). It describes a typical migraine pattern — it is not a self-diagnosis tool.
- 5 at least five attacks
- 4–72 hours untreated per attack
- 2 of: one-sided, pulsating, moderate-to-severe, worse with routine activity
- 1 of: nausea/vomiting, or sensitivity to both light and sound
A regular tension-type headache is more often a steady, mild-to-moderate pressure without nausea. Map the pattern — location, side, depth and pain type — rather than a single spot.
Red flag headache symptoms: when to get medical help
A headache map is for describing symptoms, not for ruling out serious causes. The lists below are general educational guidance, not a diagnosis. If you suspect an emergency, call your local emergency number (911 in the United States) or go to an emergency department.
Get emergency care now
- A sudden "worst headache of my life" that peaks within a minute (thunderclap headache)
- Headache with fever, stiff neck, rash or confusion
- New weakness, numbness, trouble speaking, vision loss or loss of balance
- Headache after a head injury or fall
- A new headache after age 50, or a pattern that keeps getting worse
- Headache that wakes you from sleep, or worsens lying down, coughing or straining
- During pregnancy or after birth, with vision changes or swelling
- New temple pain with scalp tenderness or jaw pain when chewing after age 50
- A new headache with cancer, HIV or a weakened immune system
Book a routine appointment
- Headaches more than a few times a month, or interfering with work or sleep
- A change in your usual pattern, intensity or location
- Needing pain relievers more than 2–3 days a week
- Headaches that keep returning despite rest, fluids and self-care
Bring your headache diary and your exported charts. A dated series is usually more useful to a clinician than a single description.
Why map headache depth as well as location?
People often say a headache feels "on the surface" or "deep inside". That distinction is hard to draw on a flat head pain diagram. This tool moves a glowing marker inward along the surface normal, so each point on your headache map has both a position and a depth value.
The 0–40 mm scale is illustrative, not anatomical. It is a consistent way to record a subjective feeling, compare episodes, and describe it to someone else — not a measurement of tissue.
Depth colour legend
0 mm
Surface10
Under skin20
Muscle30
Deep40 mm
Inside
Surface10
Under skin20
Muscle30
Deep40 mm
Inside
In X-ray mode the head becomes translucent: surface decals, the dashed probe, and the inner marker are all visible at once. Export always uses this see-through rendering by default, which is what gives the saved image its X-ray look.
Turn your headache map into a printable headache diary
A single chart shows one moment. A dated series shows a pattern — and that is what helps at an appointment. Each exported PNG already contains the date, head model, camera angle, numbered markers, depth legend and your notes, so it works as a one-page printable headache chart.
One chart per episode
When a headache starts, mark the spots, set depth and pain type, and export a PNG. Keep the files in a dated folder; the filename already includes the date.
Add the context
Use Copy summary to paste a text version into your notes app, then add onset time, duration, sleep, meals, caffeine, stress, medication and any aura, nausea or light sensitivity.
Bring the series
Two to four weeks of consistent notes gives a clinician far more to work with than a description from memory. Print the charts or show them on your phone.
Everything stays on your device: no account, no upload, no server. Open the 3D map tool to start a new entry.
Frequently asked questions
What is a headache map?
A headache map (also called a headache location chart or head pain diagram) is a visual record of where pain is felt on the head and face. It helps you describe symptoms more precisely, spot one-sided versus two-sided patterns, and compare episodes over time. This generator builds one on a rotatable 3D head instead of a flat drawing, and adds a perceived depth value.
Can a headache location chart tell me what type of headache I have?
No. Location is only one clue. One-sided throbbing pain is often reported with migraine, a tight band across both sides with tension-type headache, and pain around one eye with cluster headache — but overlap is common. A map is a communication aid, not a diagnosis.
What kind of headache do I have based on location?
Location gives clues, not a diagnosis. A steady band across the forehead or crown often fits a tension-type pattern; one-sided throbbing with nausea or light sensitivity fits migraine; severe pain behind one eye with tearing fits cluster headache; facial pressure with congestion suggests sinus involvement; pain starting in the neck may be cervicogenic. Consider duration, triggers and accompanying symptoms too. See the 8-area headache location chart.
What does the depth setting mean?
Depth is a subjective scale from 0 mm (at the skin) to 40 mm (feels deep inside the head). It is not an anatomical measurement. In X-ray view the marker travels inward along the surface normal so you can show whether pain feels superficial or deep.
How do I save or print my headache map?
Click Export PNG. The tool renders the current camera angle, enables the X-ray view, and composes an 1800 px wide printable headache chart containing numbered markers, a depth legend, your notes, and a short disclaimer. The file downloads to your device.
Can I use this for a headache diary?
Yes. Save one dated PNG per episode and keep them together, or use Copy summary to paste a text version into your notes app. Recording onset, duration, triggers, medication and accompanying symptoms alongside each map gives a clinician a much clearer picture. See the headache diary guide.
Is my health data uploaded anywhere?
No. Everything is static files and browser-side code. Markers are saved only in this browser's localStorage; there is no account, no analytics beacon, and no endpoint that receives your entries. Clear all or Erase saved data removes them.
Can I make a headache map on a female head?
Yes. Use the Male head / Female head switch above the model. Both heads share the same scale, position labels and depth scale, so a chart made on either one reads the same way. Switching heads clears current markers because the two surfaces are shaped differently.
Where are sinus headaches located?
Sinus pain is usually felt in the forehead, cheeks, between the eyes and around the nose, and often worsens when bending forward. A true sinus headache typically comes with congestion, thick or discoloured nasal discharge, fever or a reduced sense of smell. Many recurring "sinus headaches" are actually migraine, so persistent facial pressure without sinus symptoms is worth discussing with a clinician.
What does a headache on the top of my head mean?
Pain at the crown is most often a tension-type pattern: heavy, squeezing pressure rather than throbbing, commonly linked to stress, poor sleep, long screen time or tight neck and scalp muscles. Less often it is part of migraine or referred nerve pain. Open the top view to mark it, and get severe, frequent or neurologically accompanied crown pain evaluated.
Where are dehydration and caffeine withdrawal headaches located?
Both usually produce a dull, all-over ache, often most noticeable at the forehead or both sides, and may worsen when standing, bending or moving. Dehydration headaches often ease within a few hours of drinking fluids; caffeine withdrawal headaches commonly start 12–24 hours after the last caffeine and can last several days.
Is a left-sided headache different from a right-sided headache?
By itself, the side is rarely decisive. Migraine is often one-sided and may switch sides between attacks; cluster headache stays strictly on one side during a bout; trigeminal neuralgia is usually one-sided facial pain. What matters more is whether pain is always on the same side, whether it throbs, and whether nausea, aura, tearing or redness comes with it. A fixed one-sided headache that steadily worsens should be checked.
What is the 5-4-3-2-1 rule for migraines?
A memory aid based on ICHD-3 migraine criteria: at least 5 attacks, each lasting 4–72 hours untreated, at least 2 pain features (one-sided, pulsating, moderate-to-severe, worse with activity), and at least 1 of nausea/vomiting or sensitivity to both light and sound. It is a screening guide, not a self-diagnosis tool. See how headache types differ by location.
What is a red flag headache?
A red flag is a feature suggesting a headache may come from another condition rather than a usual tension-type headache or migraine: sudden thunderclap onset, fever with a stiff neck, new weakness, numbness, confusion or vision loss, a headache after injury, a new or changing headache after 50, or steady worsening. These need prompt evaluation, and a sudden severe headache needs emergency care. See the full list.
When should I seek urgent care for a headache?
Get urgent medical help for a sudden "worst ever" headache, or headache with weakness, confusion, fever, stiff neck, vision loss, after a head injury, or a new headache after age 50. This list is not exhaustive; contact a healthcare professional whenever you are concerned. In the United States, call 911 for a suspected emergency.
Sources & further reading
The educational content on this page is summarised from publicly available, widely used clinical references. It has not been clinically reviewed, and this tool is not a medical device.