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Free XML Sitemap Generator: Create sitemap.xml Online
This free XML sitemap generator turns a list of URLs into a valid sitemap.xml file. Add pages one by one in a table, or paste a bulk list, set default lastmod, priority and change frequency, then copy or download the file. One thing to know first: it does not crawl your website. You supply the URLs, which suits small and mid-size sites with up to a few hundred pages.
Create your sitemap.xmlQuick start
1Set defaults
2Add URLs
3Click Generate Sitemap
4Copy or download
1
Default Settings
2
Add URLs
| URL | Priority | Change Frequency | Last Modified | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Paste one URL per line. Default settings from Step 1 apply to all.
Your sitemap.xml
0 URLs
How to deploy: Upload
sitemap.xml to your site root (yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml), then submit the URL in Google Search Console under Sitemaps.
An XML sitemap is a file, usually at yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml, that lists the URLs you want search engines to find, optionally with a last modified date. It helps Google and Bing discover pages, especially new, large or poorly linked ones. It does not guarantee indexing and is not a ranking factor.
What an XML Sitemap Does, and What It Does Not
Search engines usually find pages by following links. A sitemap hands them a list directly. That matters most for new sites with few backlinks, large sites where some pages sit many clicks deep, and sites that publish often. Google describes sitemaps as a hint about which URLs you consider important. Including a URL does not force Google to index it, and leaving one out does not stop it being found.
So a sitemap is a discovery aid. It does not raise rankings. Content quality, relevance and links still do that work.
Does This Tool Crawl My Site?
No. Many "generator" tools spider your domain and build the list for you. This one is a builder: it formats the URLs you give it into correct XML. That has two upsides, because you decide exactly which URLs go in and nothing is fetched from your server. It has one downside: it will not find pages you forgot. For a site of thousands of URLs, or one that adds pages daily, use your CMS or an SEO plugin to generate the sitemap automatically, and use this tool for small sites, landing pages, one-off projects and quick fixes.
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How to Use the Sitemap Generator
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1STEP 1 Set defaults. Choose a default change frequency (always, hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly or never), a default priority from 1.0 to 0.3, and a default last modified date.
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2STEP 2 Add URLs. In Table Editor, add each URL and override the priority, frequency or date where needed. In Bulk Paste, paste one URL per line and the defaults apply to all.
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3STEP 3 Click Generate Sitemap. The tool produces the XML.
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4STEP 4 Copy or download. Save the file as sitemap.xml.
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5STEP 5 Upload and submit. Put the file at your domain root, then submit it in Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools.
Which Sitemap Fields Does Google Actually Use?
| Field | Used by Google? | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| loc | Yes | Required. Use the exact canonical URL, with protocol and host. |
| lastmod | Yes, if reliably accurate | Use the date the page content truly changed, not the date you generated the file. |
| changefreq | Ignored | Optional. Harmless. Google has said it ignores it. |
| priority | Ignored | Optional. Not a ranking signal. Useful only for your own organisation. |
Google has said publicly that it ignores priority and changefreq, and uses lastmod only when it proves consistently accurate. The generator still offers all three because they are part of the Sitemaps.org protocol and other crawlers may read them, but do not spend time tuning priority values for Google. Bing has said it uses lastmod, so accurate dates help there too.
The usual lastmod mistake is setting every URL to today's date each time you regenerate the file. If the date does not reflect a real change, search engines learn to ignore it for your whole site.
Sitemap Rules You Need to Follow
- Limits: one sitemap holds up to 50,000 URLs and 50 MB uncompressed. Larger sites split into several files listed in a sitemap index.
- Full URLs: each loc must be absolute, with protocol and host, such as https://example.com/page/.
- One host: only list URLs on the same site and protocol as the sitemap file.
- Encoding: UTF-8, with special characters such as & escaped as &.
- Canonical and indexable only: leave out redirected URLs, noindex pages, pages blocked in robots.txt, error pages and parameter duplicates.
- Location: a sitemap at the root can cover the whole site. One placed in a subfolder only covers that folder.
Where to Upload and How to Submit
Save the file as sitemap.xml and upload it to the root of your domain so it opens at https://yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml. On WordPress hosting, use FTP or your host's file manager and place it in the public root folder, often public_html.
Then do all three of these:
- 1Submit the sitemap URL under Sitemaps in Google Search Console.
- 2Submit it in Bing Webmaster Tools.
- 3Add a Sitemap line to robots.txt, such as Sitemap: https://yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml. The Robots.txt Generator adds this for you when you enter the URL.
Google retired its old sitemap ping endpoint in 2023, so Search Console submission and the robots.txt line are the reliable routes.
XML Sitemap vs Other Files
| File | Purpose | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| XML sitemap | Lists URLs for search engines | Discovery and recrawl hints |
| HTML sitemap | A page of links for visitors | Navigation and usability |
| robots.txt | Controls which paths crawlers may fetch | Crawl access |
| llms.txt | Suggests key pages to language models | Optional AI guidance, unofficial |
| Image, video, news sitemaps | Extensions with extra media or news data | Media-heavy or news sites |
Who Should Use This Generator
Freelancers
Who ship landing pages and brochure sites for clients.
Bloggers
With a modest archive who want a clean file without a plugin.
Developers
Who need a quick sitemap for a static site or staging check.
SEO teams
Who want a hand-curated list of priority URLs for a migration or relaunch.
If your platform already creates a sitemap, such as WordPress core, Yoast, Rank Math, Shopify or Blogger, check that one first. Adding a second, conflicting sitemap rarely helps.
Common Sitemap Mistakes
- Listing URLs that redirect or return errors. Every URL should return 200 and be the canonical version.
- Including noindex or robots-blocked pages. It sends mixed signals.
- Fake lastmod dates. They undermine trust in the field.
- HTTP and HTTPS mix, or www and non-www mix. Use one version.
- Forgetting to update it. A stale sitemap misses new pages.
- Submitting but never checking. Review the Page indexing and Sitemaps reports in Search Console for errors.
For International Sites
Language alternates can also be declared in a sitemap. This tool builds standard URL sitemaps. If you need language annotations, build them with the Hreflang Tags Generator, which outputs sitemap format as well as HTML tags.
Honest Limits of This Tool
- It does not crawl your site, so it only knows the URLs you give it.
- It is best for sites of up to a few hundred URLs. It will not suit very large sites.
- It does not check each URL for status, redirects or noindex tags. Test them yourself.
- It does not build sitemap indexes or image, video or news sitemaps.
- A sitemap helps discovery only. It will not fix thin content or indexing problems caused by quality.
Privacy
A sitemap lists public URLs, so nothing secret should go in it. Do not add staging, admin or private URLs. The tool builds the file in your browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an XML sitemap a ranking factor?
No. It is a discovery and crawling aid. It helps search engines find your pages, but being in a sitemap does not make a page rank higher.
Does this tool crawl my website?
No. You add URLs in the table or paste them in bulk, and the tool formats them into valid XML. For large or fast-changing sites, use a CMS or plugin that builds the sitemap automatically.
Do priority and changefreq affect Google rankings?
No. Google ignores both fields. They remain part of the sitemap protocol and are harmless, but they will not change crawling or rankings in Google.
Does the lastmod date matter?
Yes, if it is accurate. Google can use lastmod to decide when to recrawl, but only when dates reflect real content changes. Setting every URL to today's date erodes trust in the field.
How many URLs can one sitemap contain?
Up to 50,000 URLs and 50 MB uncompressed. Larger sites use several sitemap files tied together by a sitemap index.
Where do I upload sitemap.xml?
Upload it to your domain root so it loads at https://yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml. Then submit the URL in Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools and add a Sitemap line to robots.txt.
Which URLs should I leave out of a sitemap?
Leave out redirected URLs, error pages, noindex pages, pages blocked in robots.txt and duplicate parameter versions. List only canonical, indexable URLs.
Do I need a sitemap for a small site?
Not strictly. A small, well-linked site is usually crawled fine. A sitemap still helps new sites with few backlinks, and it gives you a Search Console report on submitted URLs.
What is the difference between an XML and an HTML sitemap?
An XML sitemap is written for search engines. An HTML sitemap is a normal web page of links for visitors. They serve different audiences, and you can have both.
Is the generator free?
Yes. It is free to use. You can generate and download sitemap.xml files for your own sites.
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Ready?
Open the XML Sitemap Generator, paste your URLs and download sitemap.xml.
Open the XML Sitemap Generator