How much does a domain name cost? Examples and prices

Both companies and self-employed people need a domain for their website so that users can access it. Internet addresses are available in different price categories.

Why are domains differently priced?

While the Domain Name System (DNS) – like the internet’s phonebook – is endlessly big, no one wants to have a cryptic sequence of numbers and letters as their web address. In additional, many top-level domains (TLDs) or domain extensions have different levels of prestige. This, in turn, is mirrored in the price. While traditional endings like .com or .org are among the most popular domain endings, new TLDs are only slowly gaining in popularity.

There are also many different domain providers. Their price differences are usually not obvious, but some providers have special offers every now and then. While price should not be the only factor in choosing a domain provider, it is definitely worth comparing several providers.

To help you understand what you’re actually paying for, we’ll briefly explain the structure of a domain. Every domain is made up of various building blocks, that together – technically speaking – make up the fully qualified domain name (FQDN). If you look at your browser’s address bar, the domain (read from left to right) starts after the protocol specification (usually https://). This is followed by:

• Third-level domain: Sub-domain; for websites this is usually www
• Second-level domain: Domain name; freely selectable; often contains the brand name or the name of the web project
• Top-level domain: Domain ending; TLDs are limited; differentiated between two types:
• Country code top-level domains (ccTLDs): country-specific or region-specific; e.g. .us or .eu
• Generic top-level domains (gTLDs): generic; refer to subject areas; e.g. .com, .org or .edu

If you buy a domain, you select a top-level or second-level domain. Sub-domains can usually be selected more liberally.

How much does a domain cost?

When it comes to domain prices, a distinction must be made between addresses that are still available and domains that have already been assigned. Depending on the demand, the prices of the latter can be very steep. Provided that an assigned domain is for sale at all. What’s more interesting for many users is how much it costs to buy an available domain name. This depends exclusively on the desired top-level domain.

Older top-level domains are comparably cheap and therefore also the first choice for many. But you do have to consider that many combinations are already reserved. New TLDs offer a much bigger selection. Alternatives to .com domains can also be better tailored to a specific offer. The .io domain is, for example, well suited for IT start ups.

Due to minor price differences between registrars, the table provides price ranges that indicate the cost for one year. Alternatively, you can directly view the domain prices from IONOS.

Only regular prices are listed in the table. But domain providers often offer additional entry-level discounts where you usually pay significantly less in the first year and only have to factor in the full rate in the following year.

What factors should you consider when buying a domain?

How do you buy a domain? First, select the provider from which you want to buy your domain. Here you have the choice between different domain types. The domain providers (registrars) then contact the TLD holders (registries) ICANN, DENIC and others, to register the domain in your name. Here is a small selection of providers:

• InterNetX
• IONOS
• Sedo
• GoDaddy

No matter which provider you choose to go with, it’s best to find out what exactly you’re paying for. Costs and services are not always clearly displayed.

• Costs in the following year: As a rule, you decide on a domain for the long term. Providers often offer discounts in the first year, which then no longer apply in the second year. Keep this in mind when planning your budget.
• Set up fees: How much does it cost to register a domain? Some providers charge a one-time fee for the registration of a domain. This is usually small but should not be forgotten.
• Auto-renewals: Typically, domains are only registered for a year. Some providers will automatically renew your contract before the year ends if you don’t cancel earlier. This can catch people off guard, but also means your website won’t suddenly be taken offline.
• Multi-domain offers: It may make sense for you to purchase several domains at the same time. Registrars often offer special deals for this.
• All-inclusive packges: Many domain providers are also hosting providers. If you know you’ll also need web space, an email address, and SSL certificates, then you might want to consider a package deal.

While planning your budget, don’t forget that beyond domain fees, setting up a website also comes with costs!

Buying reserved domains

What do you do if the domain you’re after is already taken? Of course, you can search for another combination, adapt the desired name, or switch to an alternative TLD – but this isn’t always necessary. Sometimes you’ll find that the website isn’t even active anymore on the assigned domain and the owners of the domain are more than happy to sell the internet address for a profit. To do this, you must first locate and then contact the owner. If the domain owner does not already have a price in mind, make an offer yourself.

The value of a domain is generally based on its popularity. As such, some very popular domains have even sold for several million dollars in the past:

• business.com (2007): $345 million (around £265 million)
• lasvegas.com (2005): $90 million (around £70 million)
• carinsurance.com (2010): $49.7 million (around £40 million)

Naturally, only very few domains are associated with these kinds of costs. But these top sellers do show what the value of an existing domain is measured by:

• On the one hand, memorability is an important factor. Business.com is probably the most obvious domain when it comes to the business world.
• Another reason is that you want to include important keywords in the internet address. If you search for car insurance, you will most likely find carinsurance.com.
• And finally, it is also about protecting domains from the competition. The domain lasvegas.com, for example, was bought by the owners of vegas.com to avoid confusion among users.

How much should you spend on a domain? 3 examples

Depending on your goals and budget, you should budget different amounts of money for your domain purchase. The following examples are all from different professions. For hobby projects that do not rely on traffic and a good Google ranking, on the other hand, you should simply look for the cheapest offer.

Freelancer

Let’s say you work as a freelance actor and voice-over artist. Your marketing budget is most likely low and you want to use your website primarily as an online business card where potential clients can find out a little about you. So that you don’t strain your finances too much, a .co.uk domain will suffice for the time being. Since your name is also your brand, you should definitely include it in the domain.

Domain cost: approx. £1.00 per month

Start-ups and small businesses

As a start-up, you have different expectations of your company’s presence on the web. You want to be represented as well as possible and make profitable use of SEO options. That’s why you should secure not just one, but several domains. In this way, you will be found by potential customers and give the competition less opportunity to hinder your marketing efforts. Let’s assume that the start-up is from the IT sector. This means that .io and .app, for example, are also suitable in addition to the classic addresses .com and .org.

Domain cost: approx. £8.00 per month

Big businesses

Established companies and corporations usually already have at least one domain, but this is not enough. To protect your brand, you should buy as many domains as possible – and that can also mean buying domains that have already been assigned. Here, the prices can vary greatly, depending on how well known the domain already is and how high the demand is.

Domain cost: approx. £80 per month + one-time fee of approx. £800