Sitemap checker
Enter a sitemap URL (or a domain - we'll try /sitemap.xml) to list its URLs, or its child sitemaps if it's an index.
Run a full graded audit for the whole site.
Enter a sitemap URL (or a domain - we'll try /sitemap.xml) to list its URLs, or its child sitemaps if it's an index.
An XML sitemap checker is a tool that fetches and displays the contents of a website's XML sitemap file, showing you all the URLs it lists and expanding any sitemap indexes to reveal child sitemaps. Enter a sitemap URL, and the tool immediately returns the URL count and structure.
An XML sitemap is a file on a website that lists all the URLs the site wants search engines to know about. The file is formatted in XML and follows the Sitemaps protocol standard. Search engines like Google use sitemaps as a reference when crawling a website, checking the sitemap to ensure they discover all the pages you consider important.
Sitemaps are not required for Google to find and index your pages. Google will crawl your site through links and user submissions. However, a sitemap is useful when your site has a large number of pages, when your site is new and has few inbound links, or when pages are dynamically generated and may not be easily discoverable through navigation.
A typical XML sitemap lives at /sitemap.xml or /sitemap_index.xml and contains a list of page locations. Each entry can optionally include metadata such as the date the page was last modified, how frequently the page changes, and the priority of that page relative to others on your site.
This sitemap checker requires only one input: the full URL of an XML sitemap file. The tool then fetches that file, reads its contents, and displays what it found.
The tool does not require you to log in, create an account, or install anything. It works entirely in your browser.
When you submit a sitemap URL, the tool displays the contents in a structured format. Here is what each part of the result means.
| Result Component | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| URL List | All the page locations declared in the sitemap file, shown in a readable table or list format |
| URL Count | The total number of pages found in the sitemap |
| Sitemap Index | If the file is a sitemap index (rather than a standard sitemap), the tool shows each child sitemap listed inside it |
| Child Sitemaps | For sitemap indexes, the tool expands one level to show which individual sitemaps are referenced |
If the tool cannot fetch the file at the URL you entered, it will report an error. Check that the URL is correct, that the file exists at that location, and that the domain is spelled correctly.
A website can have one of two types of sitemap files. Understanding the difference helps you interpret the checker's results.
A standard sitemap is an XML file that contains a list of URLs on a website. It can hold up to 50,000 URLs and must not exceed 50MB uncompressed. Each URL entry includes the page location and can optionally include the last modification date, update frequency hint, and priority value.
A sitemap index is an XML file that lists other sitemap files instead of page URLs. Websites with more than 50,000 URLs split their pages across multiple standard sitemaps and use an index file to organize them. The index acts like a table of contents, pointing to each individual sitemap. Google will read the index, then fetch each child sitemap to retrieve the full list of URLs.
When you check a sitemap index with this tool, it expands the index one level to show you all the child sitemaps it references. Each child's URL is displayed along with the URL count it contains. This lets you verify that all child sitemaps are discoverable and that none are missing from the index.
A sitemap checker is useful in several situations. Use it whenever you need to verify that a sitemap exists, check its contents, or troubleshoot why a sitemap may not be working.
A sitemap checker can reveal several common issues that may prevent Google from finding your pages or reading your sitemap correctly.
The most common problem is a declared sitemap that does not exist or is not accessible. Many websites declare a Sitemap: line in their robots.txt file pointing to a URL that no longer exists. A sitemap checker reveals this instantly—you enter the URL and the tool reports that the file cannot be accessed.
Another issue is a sitemap index with missing or unreachable child files. A site may have a sitemap_index.xml that references five child sitemaps, but some may not be accessible. When you check the index, the tool expands it and shows you each child sitemap it references. If any children are unreachable, you will know immediately.
A third issue is a URL count mismatch. You regenerated your sitemap after deleting old content, and you expect the URL count to drop from 10,000 to 8,000. But when you check the sitemap, it still shows 10,000 URLs—indicating the old file was not replaced or the regeneration failed. The checker lets you spot this discrepancy instantly.
A fourth issue is a sitemap that was accidentally moved or renamed. If a developer renamed sitemap.xml to sitemaps.xml but forgot to update robots.txt and any declarations, the file will not be accessible at the expected location. A sitemap checker tests whether the file is actually accessible at the URL you provide.
Many websites keep their sitemap at /sitemap.xml or /sitemap_index.xml. You can also check the site's robots.txt file (at /robots.txt) and look for a Sitemap: line, which will tell you the exact location. This sitemap checker lets you test the URL directly to see if the file is accessible.
A sitemap index is an XML file that lists multiple sitemap files instead of individual URLs. Websites with large numbers of pages split their URLs across several sitemap files and use an index to organize them. When you check a sitemap index with this tool, it shows you all the child sitemaps it references and expands them to reveal their structure.
A sitemap makes it easier for search engines to find all your pages, especially if your site is new, very large, or has pages with few inbound links. Sitemaps are not required for indexing—Google will discover pages through navigation and user submissions—but they are a helpful signal that tells search engines about your content structure. If you have more than a few hundred pages, a sitemap is recommended.
Yes. After you verify your sitemap exists and is correct using a sitemap checker, you should submit it to Google Search Console. You can either upload the sitemap URL directly in Search Console or declare it in your robots.txt file with a Sitemap: line, and Google will find it. Submitting or declaring your sitemap tells Google where to look for your URLs.
If this tool reports that your sitemap cannot be accessed, double-check the URL is correct, including the domain and file path. Verify that the file exists on your web server at that location. If the file was recently moved or renamed, make sure the robots.txt file or any other declarations point to the new location.
A single XML sitemap can contain up to 50,000 URLs and must not exceed 50MB uncompressed. If your website has more than 50,000 URLs, you need to split them across multiple sitemap files and use a sitemap index to organize them. This checker will show you the URL count for each file separately.
Yes. If a competitor's sitemap is publicly accessible, you can enter their sitemap URL into this checker to see what pages they are explicitly telling search engines about. This can give you insight into their site structure and content strategy. However, remember that a public sitemap shows only what they have chosen to declare to search engines.
No. This tool fetches your sitemap and displays the URLs it contains and the overall structure, such as a sitemap index with its children. It does not check for XML formatting errors, duplicate URLs, invalid dates, or compliance issues. For detailed validation and error checking, use a dedicated sitemap validator tool.