Max URLs in XML Sitemaps and XML Sitemap Index File

The XML Sitemaps Protocol limits each XML sitemap file to maximum 50.000 urls. However, it is possible to create multiple XML sitemap files, and link them with an XML sitemap index file.

When necessary, A1 Sitemap Generator will automatically create the required XML sitemap files including the XML sitemap index file.



A1 Sitemap Generator defaults to a limit of only 25.000 URLs per XML sitemap file, but this number can be configured in option Create sitemap | XML sitemap options | Sitemap file options:

After building your XML sitemap, you should upload all the generated XML sitemap files, e.g. sitemap.xml, sitemap-1.xml, sitemap-2.xml etc.

You should also upload the sitemap index file, here called sitemap-index.xml. You will need to submit this file to the search engines.

Below is an example the sitemaps index file where you can see how it references each generated site map file:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <sitemapindex xmlns="http://www.sitemaps.org/schemas/sitemap/0.9">   <sitemap>     <loc>http://example.com/sitemap.xml</loc>     <lastmod>2010-10-10</lastmod>   </sitemap>   <sitemap>     <loc>http://example.com/sitemap-2.xml</loc>     <lastmod>2010-10-10</lastmod>   </sitemap> </sitemapindex>

For more information about the XML Sitemaps Protocol, see our sitemaps comparison and overview article.

Note: If you need to make sitemaps of huge sites, be sure to read the help page on creating sitemaps for large websites.