XML Sitemap Validator
Paste the XML from your sitemap or sitemap index and check it against the sitemaps.org protocol. You get a valid or invalid badge, the URL count, and a list of every error and warning so you can fix the file before submitting it to Search Console.
How to validate an XML sitemap
- Open your sitemap.xml and copy the full XML, or fetch it from yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml.
- Paste it into the box; the validator checks it live as you type.
- Read the badge and the issue list, fix any errors, then re-paste to confirm it is valid.
Examples
A valid two-url sitemap
<urlset xmlns="http://www.sitemaps.org/schemas/sitemap/0.9"> <url><loc>https://example.com/</loc><priority>1.0</priority></url> <url><loc>https://example.com/about</loc></url> </urlset>
valid: true, urlCount: 2, issues: none
A priority out of range is flagged
<urlset> <url><loc>https://example.com/</loc><priority>2.0</priority></url> </urlset>
valid: false, error: Entry 1 has an invalid <priority> "2.0". Priority must be between 0.0 and 1.0.
Frequently asked questions
What does this sitemap validator check?
It confirms the root is a <urlset> or <sitemapindex>, that every entry has a <loc>, that each <loc> is an absolute http or https URL, that any <lastmod> is a valid W3C date, that <priority> sits between 0.0 and 1.0, and that <changefreq> is one of the allowed tokens. It also warns when you go over the size limits.
How many URLs and how big can one sitemap be?
A single sitemap file is capped at 50,000 URLs and 50 MB uncompressed by the sitemaps.org protocol. If you go over either limit, split your URLs across several sitemaps and list them in a sitemap index file. The validator warns you when a file crosses the 50,000 entry or 50 MB threshold.
What is the difference between an error and a warning?
An error means the sitemap breaks the protocol and can stop pages from being indexed, such as a missing <loc> or an invalid URL. A warning is a non-fatal heads-up, like exceeding the 50,000 URL limit. The sitemap is reported as invalid only when there is at least one error.
Why is a relative URL like /about flagged?
Sitemaps require fully qualified, absolute URLs that include the scheme and host, for example https://example.com/about. A relative path such as /about has no host, so crawlers cannot resolve it, and the validator marks it as an invalid <loc>.
What date format should lastmod use?
Use a W3C datetime: either a plain date like 2026-06-09 or a full timestamp with a timezone like 2026-06-09T10:30:00+00:00. Formats such as 06/09/2026 or 'June 9th' are rejected because crawlers cannot parse them reliably.
Is my sitemap sent to a server?
No. The XML is parsed and validated entirely in your browser with JavaScript, so the URLs and contents of your sitemap never leave your device.
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