How to Find When an Expired Domain Will Drop
A domain drops, meaning it is released for anyone to register, between about 35 and 80 days after expiry on most generic TLDs. The domain drop date calculator reads each domain's registry RDAP record, works out whether it is registered or in grace, redemption or pending delete, and gives the earliest and latest release dates.
Those dates follow ICANN's typical gTLD cycle, and they are a window, not a promise.
The cycle
After the expiry date comes an auto-renew grace period of up to 45 days, in which the owner can still renew and the registrar can delete the name at any point. Then a 30-day redemption period, in which only the previous owner can restore it for a fee. Then 5 days of pending delete, after which the registry releases it. Deleted on the expiry day, a name drops after 35 days; held for the full grace period, after about 80. Related reading: what domain status codes mean and when your domain is taken.
The by-hand way
- Look up the domain's expiry date and status in WHOIS or RDAP.
- Match the status to a phase: autoRenewPeriod, redemptionPeriod or pendingDelete.
- Add the remaining days of each phase to get a window.
Step 1: enter the domains
One domain, or up to 100 pasted one per line (500 when signed in).
Step 2: calculate
Each record is read from its registry's RDAP server, ten at a time. A name already in redemption is dated from the registry's last-changed date; one in pending delete drops within 5 days.
Step 3: read the phase and window
One domain gets a timeline of the whole cycle. For a list, filter to expired or dropping names and download the CSV. To check when many domains expire, see finding when a list of domains expires.
What this check cannot do
- A registrar can renew, auction or delete at any point in the grace period.
- Country-code TLDs get a status but no dates, and some publish no RDAP.
- Registries do not publish the exact drop time.
For aged names as sending domains, see aged expired domains for cold email.
Next: verify the list you will send to the new domain
A name you catch still needs clean recipients. Upload the list at the verify page: the first 100 email checks are free with a Google sign-in, no card. See bulk email verification and pricing.
Try it now
Open the domain drop date calculator.
Common questions
How long after expiry does a domain drop?
For most generic TLDs, between about 35 and 80 days: a grace period of up to 45 days, then 30 days of redemption, then 5 days of pending delete.
Why might a domain never drop?
Owners renew late in the grace period, and many registrars auction expiring names before deleting them, so the name moves to the buyer.
Does it work for .uk, .de or .io?
Country-code registries set their own rules, and several publish no RDAP. The tool shows a status where there is one but no estimated dates.
Why does an expired name show an expiry date a year away?
Some registries, including .com's, renew a name for a year at the registry as soon as it expires and mark it autoRenewPeriod. The grace period is then counted from the original expiry.
How many domains can I check?
Up to 100 a run, or 500 when signed in with Google.
Check your list before you send
Real mailbox checks over SMTP, and nothing is sent to the address. Sign in with Google and your first 100 email checks are free, no card. Plans for bigger lists are on the pricing page.