What sitemap validation checks
An XML sitemap lists the URLs you want search engines to crawl, along with optional metadata like last-modified dates. Google reads it to discover pages faster, especially on large or newly launched sites. If the file is malformed or oversized, search engines may ignore part or all of it.
This validator fetches the sitemap, confirms it is well-formed XML, detects whether it is a single sitemap or a sitemap index that points to other sitemaps, counts the URLs, and checks the file against Google's hard limits of 50,000 URLs and 50 MB uncompressed per file.
How to read your results
A valid sitemap is well-formed XML with a urlset (single sitemap) or sitemapindex (index of sitemaps) root element. Each <url> entry needs a <loc> with an absolute URL. The <lastmod> field should use ISO 8601 dates so Google can trust freshness signals.
If your file exceeds 50,000 URLs, split it into multiple sitemaps and reference them from a sitemap index. Keep all listed URLs on the same domain as the sitemap, use canonical URLs only, and submit the sitemap in Google Search Console plus a Sitemap: line in robots.txt.
Related guides
Common mistakes to avoid
- Listing redirected or 404 URLs that waste crawl budget.
- Exceeding 50,000 URLs in a single file instead of using an index.
- Including non-canonical or parameter URLs that duplicate content.
- Using fake or always-today lastmod dates that erode trust.
- Forgetting to submit the sitemap in Google Search Console.
Frequently asked questions
How many URLs can one sitemap hold?
A single XML sitemap can list up to 50,000 URLs and must stay under 50 MB uncompressed. Beyond that, split it and use a sitemap index.
What is a sitemap index?
A sitemap index is a parent file that points to multiple child sitemaps. Large sites use it to organize tens or hundreds of thousands of URLs.
Do I need a lastmod date?
It is optional but recommended. Accurate lastmod values help Google prioritize recrawling pages that actually changed.
Should every page be in the sitemap?
List only canonical, indexable URLs that return 200. Do not include redirected, noindexed, or blocked pages.