Domain names follow a defined lifecycle from registration through expiration. Understanding these stages helps you manage renewals and potentially acquire expired domains.
Active Registration
A registered domain remains active as long as it's renewed before expiration. Registrations typically span 1-10 years. Auto-renewal settings vary by registrar—some renew automatically, others require manual action. The expiration date shown in WHOIS is when the current registration ends.
Grace Period
After expiration, domains enter a grace period (typically 30-45 days) where the original owner can still renew at normal rates. The domain may stop resolving during this time. Registrars often allow easy renewal during grace period. This is the easiest time to recover an accidentally expired domain.
Redemption Period
If not renewed during grace, domains enter redemption (typically 30 days). Recovery during redemption is expensive—often $100-200+ in redemption fees on top of renewal costs. The domain is effectively "pending delete" but can still be recovered. Most owners who want their domain renew before this stage.
Pending Delete and Release
After redemption, domains enter pending delete (usually 5 days) before release. Once released, anyone can register the domain. High-value domains are often caught by backorder services the moment they drop. Drop-catching is competitive for desirable names.