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Free DMARC checker

Enter a domain to see its DMARC policy, where reports go and what to fix. We check SPF, DKIM and MX too, because DMARC only passes when SPF or DKIM passes for your own domain.

Results in secondsNothing is storedFollows RFC 9989 (2026)
Checks MX, SPF, DKIM and DMARC. Nothing is stored.

Your report will show:

DMARCPolicy, report address and RFC 9989 issues
SPFYour record, DNS lookups out of 10, and errors
DKIMKeys under 14 common selectors and their size
MX (receiving mail)Where replies and bounces go

What DMARC does

DMARC connects the two checks that prove an email really comes from you. A message passes DMARC when SPF or DKIM passes and the domain it passed for matches the domain in the From address. Your DMARC record then tells receivers what to do with mail that fails, and where to send reports about it.

The record lives in DNS as a TXT record at _dmarc.yourdomain.com. It always starts with v=DMARC1, followed by tags separated by semicolons.

How to read your result

TagWhat it means
p=noneMonitoring only. Failing mail is still delivered; you get reports.
p=quarantineFailing mail should go to spam.
p=rejectFailing mail should be refused. The strongest protection against spoofing.
rua=Where receivers send daily aggregate reports, as mailto: addresses.
sp=, np=Policies for existing subdomains and for subdomains that do not exist.
adkim=, aspf=Alignment mode: r (relaxed, the default, allows subdomains) or s (strict).
t=yTest phase: receivers apply one level lower (reject acts as quarantine).
pct=Removed by RFC 9989 in May 2026. Delete it from your record.

Who requires DMARC

The three largest mailbox providers ask senders of more than 5,000 messages a day for the same baseline:

  • Gmail: SPF and DKIM, plus a DMARC record (p=none is accepted), with the From domain aligned with SPF or DKIM.
  • Yahoo: SPF and DKIM, plus a valid DMARC policy of at least p=none that passes, with relaxed alignment accepted.
  • Outlook.com: SPF and DKIM passing, plus a DMARC record of at least p=none aligned with SPF or DKIM. Mail that falls short is rejected with error 550 5.7.515.

Below that volume, Gmail and Yahoo still ask every sender for SPF or DKIM, and recommend DMARC. If you send cold email from several inboxes, the volumes add up per domain.

How to move from p=none to p=reject

  1. Publish v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc@yourdomain.com and make sure that mailbox exists.
  2. Read the reports for a few weeks. List every service that sends as your domain: your mailbox provider, your cold email tool, your CRM, invoicing, support desk.
  3. Give each one DKIM on your domain (or a subdomain) so it passes and aligns.
  4. Switch to p=quarantine. If you want a gentle start, add t=y first.
  5. When the reports show no legitimate mail failing, switch to p=reject.

DMARC for cold email domains

Many teams send cold email from a separate domain or subdomain so complaints never touch their main domain. Each sending domain needs its own SPF, DKIM and DMARC. A subdomain inherits the parent’s DMARC policy unless sp= or its own record says otherwise. Check every domain you send from, not only your main one.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

What is a DMARC record?

A DMARC record is a TXT record at _dmarc.yourdomain.com. It tells receiving mail servers what to do with mail that claims to be from your domain but fails authentication (nothing, spam folder or reject), and where to send reports about it.

Is p=none enough?

It meets the minimum that Gmail, Yahoo and Outlook.com ask of bulk senders, and it gives you reports. It does not stop anyone from sending mail as your domain. Move to p=quarantine and then p=reject once the reports show only your own sending services.

Why does DMARC fail when SPF passes?

DMARC needs SPF or DKIM to pass for a domain that matches the From address. SPF checks the envelope sender (the Return-Path), which is often your email provider’s domain, so it can pass without aligning. Signing with DKIM on your own domain usually fixes it.

What happened to the pct tag?

RFC 9989, published in May 2026, replaced the original DMARC specification (RFC 7489) and removed pct. Receivers that follow it apply your policy to all failing mail. For a trial period, use t=y, which asks receivers to apply one level lower.

Does DMARC improve cold email deliverability?

It is a requirement, not a boost: Gmail, Yahoo and Outlook.com expect it from senders of more than 5,000 messages a day, and missing authentication gets mail filtered or rejected. Inbox placement still depends on your list, content, volume and complaint rate.

Official sources

What this page is based on

Checked October 27, 2026. Mailbox providers change their rules; the linked pages are authoritative. This tool reads public DNS only and is not a guarantee of inbox placement.

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