Complete Domain Lifecycle Timeline

🟢
Active
1–10 years
🟡
Grace Period
0–45 days
🟠
Redemption
~30 days
🔴
Pending Delete
5 days
⚡
Drop / Available
Instant

Stage 1: Active Registration (1–10 years)

A domain is considered Active when it's registered and paid for. The registrant owns full control during this period. Domains are typically registered for 1 year but can be pre-paid for up to 10 years at most registrars.

Key characteristics:

  • Domain resolves to the owner's chosen nameservers
  • Owner receives renewal notices 30–90 days before expiration
  • Auto-renewal is enabled by default at most registrars
  • Domain can be transferred or sold freely

Pro tip: Domains set to expire are sometimes listed on pre-release or auction platforms before the expiration date. GoDaddy Auctions, for example, often lists domains 10–14 days before the registration expires.

Stage 2: Grace Period (0–45 days)

When a domain's registration expires, it enters the Grace Period. This is the first opportunity for the original owner to renew at standard pricing. The domain typically stops resolving during this period, but WHOIS records may still show the original registrant.

Duration Variability

The grace period is not standardized. It varies by registrar and TLD:

  • GoDaddy (.com/.net/.org): ~18–26 days
  • Namecheap (.com/.net/.org): ~30 days
  • Network Solutions: ~40–45 days
  • Country-code TLDs (ccTLDs): Highly variable — .io is ~30 days, .co.uk has no grace period

Acquisition window: During the grace period, only the original registrant can renew. Third parties cannot acquire the domain at this stage unless the registrar lists it in a closeout auction (common with GoDaddy Auctions).

Stage 3: Redemption Period (~30 days)

If the owner doesn't renew during the grace period, the domain enters Redemption. This is the last chance for the original owner to recover the domain — but at a significantly higher cost.

What Happens During Redemption

  • Domain is non-functional (doesn't resolve)
  • WHOIS shows "REDEMPTION PERIOD" status
  • Original owner can still reclaim it by paying a redemption fee (typically $150–$200 on top of renewal cost)
  • Third parties cannot register the domain during this period

Redemption length: ICANN mandates a minimum 30-day redemption period for gTLDs (.com, .net, .org). Some registrars add a few extra days.

Stage 4: Pending Delete (5 days)

After redemption expires without recovery, the domain enters Pending Delete. This is a 5-day waiting period before the domain is released back into the general pool.

Critical Details

  • The domain cannot be renewed by the original owner
  • WHOIS status shows "PENDING DELETE"
  • The exact drop time is not publicly disclosed — domains drop sometime between day 1 and day 5
  • Drop-catching services (SnapNames, NameJet, DropCatch) monitor domains in this stage

Drop timing: Domains in Pending Delete typically drop around 2 PM PST, but there's no guarantee. Drop-catching services use automated systems to register domains within milliseconds of availability.

Stage 5: Drop / Available (Instant)

At the end of the Pending Delete period, the domain drops and becomes publicly available for registration. This is when competition is highest.

How Domains Are Acquired at Drop

  • Public registration: First-come, first-served at any registrar (very rare to win manually)
  • Drop-catching services: NameJet, SnapNames, DropCatch place backorders and compete to catch the domain
  • Auction after catch: If multiple people backordered the domain, it goes to auction among backorder participants

Why drop-catching services win: These platforms use automated scripts and direct registry connections to register domains within milliseconds. Manual registration is nearly impossible for valuable domains.

Registrar-Specific Variations

While ICANN sets baseline rules for gTLDs, individual registrars implement their own policies within those guidelines. Here are the most common differences:

GoDaddy

  • Grace period: ~18–26 days
  • Redemption: 30 days
  • Often auctions domains before expiration
  • Closeout auctions for domains in grace period

Namecheap

  • Grace period: ~30 days
  • Redemption: 30 days
  • No pre-expiration auctions
  • Domains proceed directly to pending delete

Network Solutions

  • Grace period: ~40–45 days (longest)
  • Redemption: 30 days
  • Premium pricing on renewals
  • Rarely lists in closeout auctions

Enom

  • Grace period: ~30 days
  • Redemption: 30 days
  • Often feeds NameJet auctions
  • Extended grace for some ccTLDs

When Can You Actually Acquire an Expiring Domain?

Here's the practical breakdown for buyers:

  • During grace period: Only through registrar-specific closeout auctions (e.g., GoDaddy Auctions Closeouts). Rare outside GoDaddy.
  • During redemption: No third-party acquisition possible. Original owner only.
  • During pending delete: Place backorders on NameJet, SnapNames, or DropCatch. Domain goes to auction if multiple backorders exist.
  • After drop: Attempt manual registration (unlikely to succeed) or win the backorder auction.

Best acquisition window: For competitive domains, backorder on multiple drop-catching platforms 7–10 days before the estimated drop date. If only one platform catches it, you avoid auction and pay the base backorder fee ($59–$79).

TLD-Specific Exceptions

Not all TLDs follow the same lifecycle. Country-code TLDs (ccTLDs) and newer gTLDs often have unique policies:

  • .io: Standard lifecycle, but grace period varies (20–40 days depending on registrar)
  • .co.uk: No grace period. Domain is suspended immediately upon expiration and enters a direct redemption phase
  • .de (Germany): No redemption period. Domains drop immediately after grace period ends
  • .com.au (Australia): 60-day grace period, but the domain is placed on hold and doesn't resolve
  • .ai: Expensive redemption fees (~$500+). Often renewed by original owners due to high cost

Tracking Domain Lifecycle Status

To determine where a domain is in the lifecycle, use these methods:

  • WHOIS lookup: Check the "Domain Status" field for keywords like "clientHold," "redemptionPeriod," or "pendingDelete"
  • ExpiredDomains.net: Filter by lifecycle stage (Deleted Domains, Pending Delete, etc.)
  • NameJet/SnapNames: Lists domains in Pending Delete with estimated drop dates
  • GoDaddy Auctions: Shows domains in grace period under the "Closeouts" tab

Key Takeaways

  • The domain lifecycle is not uniform — grace period length varies by registrar and TLD
  • Most acquisition opportunities occur during Pending Delete via drop-catching services
  • GoDaddy's Closeout Auctions provide the earliest third-party acquisition window (during grace period)
  • Domains with multiple backorders go to auction; single backorders win at base fee (~$60–$80)
  • ccTLDs often have drastically different rules — always check TLD-specific policies before pursuing

Next Steps

Now that you understand the lifecycle, learn where to find expiring domains and how to acquire them: