Max Light map size set to 1024, lightmap bakes at 32x32

basically just the title but the objects i want to bake have contribute global illumination

The lightmap produced by a bake won’t necessarily match the chosen “Max Lightmap Size”. The “Max Lightmap Size” setting is an upper bound. If most of the lightmap ends up empty, we shrink it as much as possible. To increase the size of an object in the lightmap, you need to either increase the objects “Scale in Lightmap” property, or increase the global “Lightmap Resolution” property in the Lighting Window.

the thing is, the mesh renderer doesnt show the lightmap, which it is supposed to

Making sure I understand: The renderer isn’t present on the lightmap at all, even though you have contribute GI ticked, and Receive GI set to Lightmaps?

Can you post a screencap of your Lighting Settings and the specific inspector of the specific problematic renderer?