How to Judge the Value of a Domain Name (A Checklist, Not a Made-Up Price)

To judge the value of a domain name, mark what you can see in the name, then look into what you cannot. The domain name value checklist marks length, extension, hyphens, digits, how easy the name is to say, spelling when heard and syllables, and adds notes on trademarks, history and availability. It shows no price.

What makes a name valuable

A short name with a recognised extension, no hyphens or digits, that is easy to say and spell after hearing it once. Such a name is easier to remember, type and tell someone, which is what a domain is for.

The by-hand way

1. Write the name and count the characters.
2. Note the extension and whether people recognise it.
3. Check for hyphens and digits.
4. Say it to someone and ask them to spell it back.
5. Then do the research no checklist can do, below.

Step 1: paste the names

Paste names one per line, with the extension. Web addresses and email addresses are cut down to the domain. Press Run the checklist.

Step 2: read each row

Mark	Meaning
Pass	The rule favours the name
Check	It counts against the name
Note	Look into it before you buy

Filter to the names with something to check, then download the CSV.

Why there is no price

A number would be made up. A name sells for what one buyer will pay, and it can be worth little to one buyer and a great deal to another. Use the checklist to compare names against each other or to catch problems before you buy. Ask the registrar for the price, and for premium names look at what the registry lists.

What to check that the tool cannot

• Availability: use the bulk domain availability checker.
• History: for a used domain, check its age and past with the domain age checker, since a name used before can carry blocklist history.
• Trademarks: search the registers for your market, as a name close to a registered brand can be taken back whatever you paid.

Say it aloud with the length and pronounceability checker. See also how to find an available domain name.

What this tool cannot do

• It is a checklist of rules, not an appraisal: no price, no resale estimate.
• It cannot see trademarks, history, demand or whether the name is for sale.
• The rules about saying and spelling are for English words.

Setting up a sending domain? Verify the list first

Setting up a sending domain? Check that the names are free with the bulk domain availability checker, then verify the list you will send to first. A new domain has no sending reputation, and early bounces from dead addresses count against it. The first 100 email checks on the verify page are free with a Google sign-in, no card. Each address comes back valid, risky or invalid with a reason, and nothing is sent to anyone on the list. For larger lists, see bulk email verification and pricing.

Run the checklist now

Open the domain name value checklist.