XML Sitemap Size & Split Calculator

Example

Input: 120,000 Pages

Result: 3 Sitemap Files

Step-by-Step Guide

1 Audit URL Inventory: Export a full list of indexable pages from your CMS or database.
2 Define Constraints: Use the standard 50,000 URL limit or a lower custom limit (e.g., 10,000) for better performance.
3 Calculate Splits: Determine the number of child sitemaps required.
4 Plan Index File: If count > 1, create a parent Sitemap Index linking to the children.

What is XML Sitemap Size & Split Calculator?

An XML Sitemap is a critical file for Search Engine Optimization (SEO) that lists every URL on your website, acting as a roadmap for crawlers like Googlebot. However, standard protocols limit a single sitemap file to 50,000 URLs or 50MB uncompressed size. This calculator helps webmasters, developers, and SEO specialists determine exactly how many sitemap files they need to generate and whether a Sitemap Index file is required to chain them together.

How it Works

The calculation divides the Total URL Count by the maximum limit (50,000 default). The result is rounded up to the nearest integer (ceiling function). For example, if you have 50,001 URLs, you mathematically require 2 sitemap files. The tool also considers best practices for keeping file sizes manageable to prevent server timeouts during crawling.

FAQ

What happens if I exceed 50,000 URLs?

Google will stop processing the file, and the remaining URLs may not be discovered or indexed.

Do I need a Sitemap Index file?

Yes, if you have more than one sitemap file, you must submit a Sitemap Index file that lists all of them.

Does file size matter?

Yes, the file must be under 50MB uncompressed. If your URLs are very long, you may hit the size limit before the URL count limit.

Should I include images?

Yes, Google encourages image sitemaps or including image tags within your standard sitemap for better discovery.

How often should I update it?

Ideally, your sitemap should update dynamically whenever new content is published or modified.

Conclusion

Proper sitemap architecture is the foundation of technical SEO. For sites with millions of pages, such as e-commerce stores or news publishers, splitting sitemaps logically (e.g., by category or date) rather than just by random count can further aid in diagnosing indexation issues in Google Search Console.

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References & Standards

This calculator uses formulas and data standards from Standard References to ensure accuracy.

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