This article explains the life cycle of a domain name, describing how it expires, goes into redemption, and finally gets deleted.
Every domain name has an expiring date yearly. One thing is buying a domain another is renewing it once it expires.
Possibly at the time, your domain expires you may not be available to renew it. Or let’s say you may be too broke to pay for the renewal.
At this point, you will keep asking yourself how much time do you have.
Although, it all depends on each specific domain registrar’s rules and regulations. But we will explain the standard approach.
It takes about 80 days for an expired domain to be deleted and available for anyone to buy.
The 80 days may vary depending on the registrar.
See the breakdown of the 80 days.
- The first 45 days = Grace Period.
- Next 30 days = Redemption Period.
- Next 5 days = Elimination Period.
The breakdown can best be explained with the use of an example.
See the example below.
Let’s say a “mydomain.com” has an expiry date of “X.”
Within X+45 days, the domain will still be under the registrant’s name.
These 45 days are called the “Grace Period” as it will show on the domain status.
Within this period, the domain may not be resolved as it is still possible to pay for the renewal.
Within (X+45)+30 days, the domain will get into another status known as the “Redemption Period.”
Within the Redemption Period, the domain still does not get resolved, but the registrant information may no longer be available on the whois.
Although within the Redemption Period, the domain can still be renewed, there may be a penalty for doing so.
Within (X+45+30)+5 days is known as the Elimination Period. This is the period the domain is waiting to be “deleted.”
After the Elimination Period, the domain may then be available to the general public.
However, in most situations nowadays, after the elimination period, the domain gets captured by some domain reseller or backorder engine and resold by auction.
The above is the life cycle of most domain names.
As I said earlier, the procedure I explained may vary by the registrar.
Always read the terms and conditions of each domain registrar before acquiring a domain name.
Table of Contents
Domain Lifecycle
Registration Period: Every domain begins its journey with registration. Typically, a domain is registered for a period ranging from one to ten years. The registrant, or the person who registered the domain, has the right to use it during this period.
Expiration Phase: When the registration period ends, the domain enters the expiration phase. If the domain is not renewed, it doesn’t become immediately available for others to register. Instead, it goes through several phases before being deleted.
Grace Period
Duration: Immediately after expiration, most domains enter a grace period, typically lasting around 30-45 days. During this time, the current owner can still renew the domain without any additional fees.
Redemption Period
If the domain is not renewed during the grace period, it enters the redemption period. This phase usually lasts around 30 days. During the redemption period, the domain can still be reclaimed by the original owner, but it often comes with a hefty fee.
Pending Deletion
Phase: If the domain is not reclaimed during the redemption period, it moves to the pending deletion phase. This phase lasts for about 5 days, and during this time, no changes can be made to the domain. After this period, the domain is deleted and becomes available for anyone to register.
Factors Influencing Domain Deletion
Domain Registrar Policies: Different registrars might have slightly different policies regarding the timing and fees associated with domain expiration and deletion. It’s essential to check with your specific registrar for precise details.
Domain Extensions: The type of domain extension (.com, .net, .org, etc.) can also influence the expiration and deletion timeline. Some extensions have longer grace and redemption periods than others.
Market Demand: Domains with high market demand might go through expedited processes as registrars try to reclaim valuable domains quickly to resell them.
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