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Sitemap index files: when and how to split sitemaps

A sitemap index lists other sitemaps. Use one when you have more than 50,000 URLs or more than 50 MB, or simply to organise sitemaps by section so Search Console reports are easier to read.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<sitemapindex xmlns="http://www.sitemaps.org/schemas/sitemap/0.9">
  <sitemap>
    <loc>https://example.com/sitemap-products-1.xml</loc>
    <lastmod>2026-10-18</lastmod>
  </sitemap>
  <sitemap>
    <loc>https://example.com/sitemap-blog.xml</loc>
  </sitemap>
</sitemapindex>

Rules

• An index can list up to 50,000 sitemaps.
• Indexes can't be nested: an index must point to urlset sitemaps, not to other indexes.
• Child sitemaps should be on the same host (or in the same directory or below) as the index, unless cross-submission is verified.
• Submit only the index in Search Console. Google discovers the children.

The checker validates the index and the first two child sitemaps it lists.

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