A sitemap Google can trust
Enter a sitemap URL or paste the XML. The validator checks that it's well-formed, uses the correct sitemaps.org namespace, stays within the 50,000 URL and 50 MB limits, uses absolute URLs on the same host, has no duplicates, and that every lastmod date is in W3C format and not in the future. Sitemap index files are recognized too.
Optionally it requests the first 50 URLs to confirm they return 200 — sitemaps should list only final, indexable pages, not redirects or errors.
How to validate a sitemap
- 1
Enter the sitemap URL
Or paste the XML.
- 2
Run the validation
Structure and content checks.
- 3
Fix any errors
Then resubmit in Search Console.
Key features
Protocol checks
Namespace, limits and URL format.
Date validation
W3C lastmod format.
Duplicate detection
Each URL listed once.
Status sampling
First 50 URLs requested.
Common uses
- “Couldn't fetch” errors: Diagnose sitemap problems in Search Console.
- After site changes: Make sure old URLs were removed.
- Plugin output: Check what your SEO plugin generates.
Tips and good to know
- Keep lastmod accurate: update it only when a page's content really changes.
- Generate a clean sitemap with the XML Sitemap Generator.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a sitemap invalid?
Broken XML, a wrong namespace, relative URLs, more than 50,000 URLs or 50 MB per file, and badly formatted dates.
Should redirected URLs be in my sitemap?
No. List only the final URLs that return 200 and are indexable.
Can I submit a sitemap for another domain?
Only if you've verified both sites in Search Console; otherwise list URLs from the sitemap's own host.