How do I fix "too many DNS lookups"?
Remove includes for services you no longer use. If you still need them all, replace some includes with the ip4 ranges they contain, or ask your providers about a flattened record.
Email Tools
SPF Checker
Validate an SPF record, count lookups and build a new one.
SPF record generator
Tick every service that sends email for your domain. You can only have one SPF record, so put them all in it.
Add this TXT record at your domain (host @)
v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~allHow it works
1
Enter your domain
Type the domain you send email from.
2
See what is wrong
We check the syntax, count DNS lookups across every include, and flag risky settings.
3
Copy a fixed record
Use the generator to build one SPF record for all your email services.
What an SPF record looks like
An SPF record is a single TXT record at your domain that starts with v=spf1, lists the services allowed to send email for you, and ends with an "all" rule. For example: v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com include:sendgrid.net ~all.
The most common SPF mistakes
- Two SPF records. Merge them into one, or SPF fails for every email.
- More than 10 DNS lookups. Each include, a, mx and exists counts, including the ones inside other includes.
- +all at the end, which lets anyone send as your domain.
- Forgetting a service that sends email for you, like your CRM or newsletter tool.
SPF Checker features
- Validates SPF syntax and finds duplicate SPF records.
- Counts DNS lookups across every include and warns before you hit the limit of 10.
- Flags +all, ?all, missing all, deprecated ptr and includes that point nowhere.
- Shows which services your record authorizes, like Google Workspace or SendGrid.
- SPF generator for Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Hostinger, Zoho, Mailchimp, SendGrid, Brevo, Amazon SES and more.
SPF Checker FAQ
Should I use ~all or -all?
~all (soft fail) is the safe choice for most domains. Use -all once DMARC reports show only your real services send as your domain.
Can I have two SPF records?
No. A domain can have only one SPF record. Two records make SPF fail with a permanent error.
Where do I add the SPF record?
In your domain DNS settings (for example GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare or Hostinger) as a TXT record on the root of the domain, often written as @.
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