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If an SPF evaluation exceeds 10 DNS-evaluating terms, it must return permerror. The count includes terms reached through recursive include and redirect evaluations—not just the terms visible in your domain’s SPF record. To fix it safely, inspect the complete evaluation path, remove only unnecessary DNS-dependent terms, and confirm that every legitimate sender remains authorized.
What the SPF 10-lookup limit counts
RFC 7208 §4.6.4 limits a complete SPF evaluation to 10 DNS-evaluating terms. The count is global across the root policy and the policies it evaluates recursively. A record with only a few terms can exceed the cap if its included providers’ policies also use counted terms. RFC 7208 §4.6.4
| SPF term | Counts toward 10? | How it affects evaluation |
|---|---|---|
include |
Yes | Evaluates the referenced domain’s SPF policy; that policy may add more counted terms. |
a |
Yes | Performs a DNS address lookup. |
mx |
Yes | Performs DNS evaluation and is also subject to a separate limit of 10 address records queried per MX record. |
ptr |
Yes | Counts, and RFC 7208 says it should not be published. |
exists |
Yes | Performs an A lookup for the expanded domain. |
redirect |
Yes | Evaluates another SPF policy when the current policy’s mechanisms do not match. |
all, ip4, ip6 |
No | Do not cause DNS queries during SPF evaluation. |
exp |
No | Its explanation lookup occurs later, not during SPF evaluation. |
An include is not simply a statement to accept every message from the named provider. SPF evaluates that provider’s policy and applies the include’s matching behavior. A redirect is not a way around the cap either: it counts when evaluated, and the redirected policy may recurse further. RFC 7208 §5.2 RFC 7208 §6.1
Why an SPF record returns permerror
permerror means SPF evaluation encountered a permanent error; it is not the same result as an ordinary SPF fail. Exceeding the global 10-term limit requires permerror. RFC 7208 states: “If this limit is exceeded, the implementation MUST return “permerror”.” RFC 7208 §4.6.4
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Other SPF errors have separate rules. Check these independently rather than assuming every permerror is caused by too many lookups.
- Multiple SPF records: If a domain’s TXT result set contains more than one SPF record, RFC 7208 requires
permerror, even if each record appears to use fewer than 10 terms. RFC 7208 §3.2 - Void lookups: A void lookup is a DNS response with no answers or a name error. SPF implementations should limit these to two; RFC 7208 recommends a default limit of two, and exceeding the configured limit produces
permerror. This is distinct from the global term cap. RFC 7208 §4.6.4 - MX address-record limit: The standard separately limits address records queried to 10 for each MX record. Exceeding that limit also produces
permerror; it is not the same as exceeding 10 DNS-evaluating terms. RFC 7208 §4.6.4
How to find which terms are pushing SPF over the limit
- Retrieve the domain’s TXT records. Identify the SPF record beginning with
v=spf1and check whether more than one SPF record is published. Multiple records are an independent error condition. - Count the root record’s DNS-evaluating terms. Tally each
include,a,mx,ptr,exists, andredirect. Do not addall,ip4,ip6, orexpto the 10-term count. - Follow the evaluation recursively. Inspect every policy reached by an evaluated
includeand any effectiveredirect, tallying counted terms across the complete path. A root-record count alone cannot establish the total. - Separate other error checks. If the count is not over 10, investigate duplicate SPF records, void lookups, and the separate per-MX address-record limit instead of treating them as interchangeable.
- Map each authorization to a real sender. Determine which systems send mail for the domain and which published terms authorize them before editing. The standard sets the evaluation rules; it does not identify which senders your organization still uses.
How to reduce the count without breaking mail
Remove obsolete or redundant authorization
Start with terms whose corresponding sending system is no longer used, or authorizations that duplicate another valid path. Confirm the sender’s current role with the relevant mail or application owner before removing it. Cutting a legitimate sender solely to get below 10 can cause its messages to stop passing SPF.
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Avoid publishing ptr
Because ptr counts and RFC 7208 says it should not be published, replace it only after determining which sending infrastructure it was intended to authorize. Use explicit, maintained authorization appropriate to that infrastructure rather than deleting an unverified sender requirement. RFC 7208 §5.5
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Consolidate shared policy only when it preserves behavior
RFC 7208 describes redirect as a way to consolidate policies for domains under shared administration, but it still counts when evaluated. Consolidation can make policy easier to manage; it does not inherently reduce the total number of DNS-evaluating terms or bypass recursive evaluation. Keep the terminal behavior explicit so it is clear how the record handles senders that do not match an earlier mechanism. RFC 7208 §6.1 RFC 7208 §3
Treat flattening as a maintenance choice, not an automatic fix
Replacing provider include terms with copied IP ranges may reduce recursive DNS evaluation, but it creates an obligation to keep those ranges current and preserve the original authorization semantics. Do not copy ranges unless you have a reliable update process and have verified that the resulting policy still authorizes the intended senders. The RFC does not require flattening, and it is not universally safe.
Validate the revised policy
After changing DNS, retrieve the published TXT records again and recheck the root policy and every referenced policy along the evaluation path. Confirm there is one SPF record, that the complete evaluation stays within the applicable limits, and that each legitimate sender remains covered. Recheck after DNS changes have propagated; the timing depends on DNS caching and the authoritative DNS setup, and RFC 7208 does not specify a universal propagation interval.
RFC 7208 advises domain administrators to “keep the amount of DNS information needed to evaluate a record to a minimum.” That means simplifying unnecessary evaluation paths while preserving the authorization the domain actually needs—not merely reducing the visible number of terms in the root record. RFC 7208 §3
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