How much should I expect to pay for a .com domain?
Standard Pricing
For a standard, unregistered .com domain, you can expect to pay around $10 to $15 per year at many popular registrars. Some registrars charge up to $20 or more, especially if they include extras like privacy protection or email.
The wholesale price for .com is set by Verisign and is currently around $8 to $9 per year. Registrars add their own margin, so the retail price varies.
First-Year Deals and Renewals
Many registrars offer first-year deals for as low as $0.99 or even free with other purchases. However, the renewal price is what you'll pay year after year, so focus on that. Renewals usually range from $12 to $18 for a .com.
Some registrars offer discounts for registering for multiple years upfront. For example, you might pay $30 for three years, which works out to $10 per year.
Premium Domains
If the domain you want is already registered, you might need to buy it from the owner or through a broker. Premium domains can cost from a few hundred dollars to millions, depending on the name's desirability.
Some registrars also classify certain unregistered domains as premium, charging higher prices. These are usually short, generic, or keyword-rich names.
Common mistakes
- Focusing only on the first-year price and ignoring the renewal cost.
- Assuming all .com domains cost the same, when premium domains can be much more expensive.
- Forgetting that privacy protection (WHOIS privacy) often costs extra, adding $5 to $15 per year.