Free Tool

XML Sitemap Generator

Generate a valid XML sitemap by crawling your website. Download and submit to Google Search Console.

Guide

XML sitemaps, explained

What an XML sitemap is, why search engines want one, and how to create yours in minutes.

What is an XML sitemap?

An XML sitemap is a file that lists every page on your website you want search engines to index. It follows a simple standard (the sitemaps.org protocol): one loc entry per URL, plus optional details like when the page last changed. Google, Bing, and AI crawlers read this file to discover your pages instead of relying only on following links.

Without a sitemap, new or deeply buried pages can take weeks to be found — or get missed entirely. With one, you hand crawlers a complete map of your site. A single sitemap file can hold up to 50,000 URLs; bigger sites split across multiple files joined by a sitemap index.

How to create an XML sitemap

  1. Enter your website URL above. The generator crawls your site and collects the indexable pages.
  2. Click Generate. You get a valid XML sitemap built to the sitemaps.org standard.
  3. Download and upload it. Place the file at your domain root (e.g. /sitemap.xml), then submit it in Google Search Console.

Two follow-up steps make the sitemap work harder: run it through the Sitemap Validatorto confirm it's error-free, and add a Sitemap: line to your robots.txt with the Robots.txt Generator so crawlers find it on their own. To confirm it's live where crawlers expect it, use the Sitemap Finder & Checker.

Frequently asked questions

How do I create an XML sitemap?

Enter your website URL in the generator above and click Generate. The tool crawls your site, collects the indexable pages, and builds a valid XML sitemap you can download. Upload the file to your site's root folder and submit it in Google Search Console.

Do I need an XML sitemap for SEO?

Yes, for most sites. A sitemap tells Google and Bing exactly which pages exist so nothing important gets missed. It matters most for new sites with few backlinks, large sites with deep pages, and sites whose pages aren't well connected by internal links.

Where do I upload my sitemap?

Put the file at the root of your domain — for example example.com/sitemap.xml. Then submit the URL in Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools, and add a "Sitemap:" line to your robots.txt file so crawlers can find it on their own.

How often should I update my sitemap?

Whenever you add, remove, or move pages. Most CMS platforms regenerate the sitemap automatically. If yours is a static file, regenerate it after every meaningful content change so search engines pick up new pages quickly.

What is the difference between an XML sitemap and an HTML sitemap?

An XML sitemap is for search engines — a machine-readable list of your URLs with optional last-modified dates. An HTML sitemap is a normal web page that lists links for human visitors. For SEO, the XML version is the one that matters.

Last reviewed June 2026.