Small, well-linked sites can be crawled without one, but a sitemap helps search engines discover new and deep pages faster and is recommended for every site.

Should every URL be in the sitemap?

Only canonical, indexable URLs that return 200. Leave out redirects, noindex pages and duplicates.

Free XML Sitemap Validator

Validate sitemap structure, URLs, dates and limits.

Create a free account for more

Audit your whole site (not just one page), track keyword rankings, schedule weekly checks and get an AI fix plan.

Start free

What does the XML Sitemap Validator do?

Check that your XML sitemap follows the sitemaps.org protocol: correct root element and namespace, valid absolute URLs on the same host, W3C lastmod dates, valid changefreq and priority values, no duplicates and under the 50,000 URL / 50 MB limits.

How to use it

1Enter your sitemap URL (or your domain — we try /sitemap.xml) or paste the XML.
2Fix every error first; warnings are best-practice improvements.
3Resubmit the sitemap in Google Search Console.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a sitemap?: Small, well-linked sites can be crawled without one, but a sitemap helps search engines discover new and deep pages faster and is recommended for every site.
Should every URL be in the sitemap?: Only canonical, indexable URLs that return 200. Leave out redirects, noindex pages and duplicates.

Start growing your organic traffic today

Create a free account in under a minute. No credit card required — upgrade only when you need more.

Start free See pricing