How to find a good expiring domain
Start with a filtered list: pick the extension, cap the length, allow letters only and hide hyphens, then sort by length or drop date. Shortlist names that are easy to say and spell, then check each one's past use, any trademark conflicts and whether search engines or spam lists flag it, before you backorder or register it.
On a typical day, tens of thousands of generic domains leave their zone files on their way to being deleted. Most of them are long, hyphenated or tied to a business that no longer exists. A handful are short, clear names that someone could build a real project on. This guide shows how to find those names on DropTicker, and what to check before you backorder or register one.
Start with the right list
DropTicker has two browse pages, and they suit different goals:
- Pending Delete lists names that have left the zone and are moving through redemption and pending delete, soonest estimated drop first. Use it to plan backorders.
- Recently Dropped lists names that have already been released, newest first. Some may since have been registered by someone else, but less contested names are often still free to register at the normal price.
If you're not sure how a name gets onto either list, read how domain drops work first.
Narrow it down with filters
The filter panel on each browse page cuts thousands of names down to a list you can read. You don't need all of them; two or three usually do the job. Every filter is saved in the page address, so you can bookmark a search or share it.
Extension
Pick one or more of .com, .net, .org, .info, .biz and .xyz. If you want a name people will type from memory, .com is still the default most people assume.
Length
Set a Min and Max number of characters, not counting the extension. Shorter names are easier to remember and type, and they're also the most contested. A maximum of 6 to 10 characters is a sensible starting point for a brandable name.
Characters
Choose Letters, Numbers or Mixed, and choose No hyphens to drop hyphenated names. For most brands, letters only with no hyphens is the cleanest choice; numbers and hyphens are easy to mishear when a name is said out loud.
Name
Use Contains, Starts with and Ends with to find names around a word, such as names ending in "lab" or starting with "get". Use Doesn't contain, with a comma-separated list, to rule out strings you never want to see.
Pattern
Patterns describe a name's shape: C is a consonant, V a vowel, L any letter, N a number and * anything. CVCV finds pronounceable four-letter names like "sola"; LLL finds three-letter names. The preset buttons fill in common patterns for you.
Dropping window and sort
On Pending Delete, the Dropping filter limits the list to names expected to drop today, by tomorrow, or in the next 7 or 30 days. You can sort by drop date, shortest or longest first, or A–Z, either from the Sort menu or by clicking the Length and date column headings.
Example searches
- Short .com names: letters only, no hyphens, up to 6 characters
- Pronounceable four-letter names (pattern CVCV)
- Clean names up to 10 characters dropping in the next 7 days
- Recently dropped names ending in "lab"
What makes a name worth having
Filters find names with the right shape. Judging whether a name is good is up to you. Useful questions:
- Can you say it and spell it? Read it aloud to someone and ask them to type it. If they get it wrong, so will customers.
- Does it mean something, or could it? Real words, clear word pairs and short invented names that sound like words tend to age well.
- Does it fit what you'll use it for? A name that suits a café might not suit a software company.
- Is it free of awkward readings? Look at where the words join. Two harmless words can run together into something you didn't intend.
Check before you commit
An expired name has a past, and that past can come with it. Before you backorder or register a name, spend a few minutes checking:
- Trademarks. Search the trademark databases for the countries you'll operate in. A name that matches a well-known brand can be taken from you, whatever you paid for it.
- History. Look the name up in a web archive to see what was on it before. A name that hosted spam, malware or adult content may be distrusted by email providers and search engines.
- Reputation. Check whether it appears on public spam or blocklists, and search for the name in quotes to see what people have said about it.
- Backlinks. If you want the name partly for its existing links, check they come from relevant, real sites rather than link farms.
- Its current stage. On Pending Delete, the Status column shows whether a name is in redemption (the owner can still restore it) or pending delete (it will almost certainly drop). The redemption vs pending delete guide explains the difference.
Then act
For a name that hasn't dropped yet, use its Backorder link; the backordering guide explains how that works and what it doesn't guarantee. For a name on Recently Dropped, use its Register link to see whether it's still free. Click any domain name for its detail page.
Remember that drop dates on DropTicker are estimates: the methodology page explains how they are made and why they can be off by a day or so. Words you don't recognise are defined in the glossary.