How to Use the XML Sitemap Validator
How to Use the XML Sitemap Validator
Free tool that validates any XML sitemap for structure, dead URLs, and Google's size limits.
Validate any XML sitemap for syntax errors, dead URLs, and size limits — free, no signup — LemRank.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a sitemap if my site is small?
Sites under ~500 pages with strong internal linking are discoverable without one. Sitemaps still help with new pages, orphan pages, and Google Search Console reporting even at small scale.
How do I fix a "sitemap could not be read" error?
Most commonly: wrong Content-Type header (should be application/xml), gzipped without .gz extension, or served from a URL that redirects. Refetch through the validator to isolate.
Should I include noindex pages in the sitemap?
No — sitemaps signal "please index this". Including noindex pages sends mixed signals and wastes crawl budget on pages you've told Google to skip.