Corg Domain Name Pricing Guide: What Domains Are Worth
Domain Name Pricing Guide: What Domains Are Worth
Domain pricing operates on two separate markets. The registration market sets standard annual fees for new domains. The aftermarket determines resale values based on scarcity, demand, and commercial potential. Understanding both is essential whether you are buying your first domain or evaluating a portfolio worth six figures.
Registration Pricing by Extension
Standard annual registration costs for the most common TLDs in 2026:
| Extension | Typical Registration | Typical Renewal | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| .com | $10 - $15 | $10 - $23 | Most valuable extension, wide price range by registrar |
| .net | $11 - $15 | $12 - $18 | Second-tier commercial extension |
| .org | $10 - $14 | $12 - $16 | Historically associated with nonprofits |
| .io | $30 - $50 | $30 - $50 | Popular with tech startups |
| .ai | $70 - $100 | $70 - $100 | Fastest-growing TLD as of 2025 |
| .co | $25 - $35 | $25 - $35 | Shortened alternative to .com |
| .xyz | $2 - $12 | $12 - $14 | Budget option, aggressive first-year pricing |
| .dev | $12 - $16 | $12 - $16 | Developer-focused, requires HTTPS |
The gap between registration and renewal prices is a critical detail. Some registrars offer promotional first-year rates that double or triple on renewal. Cloudflare eliminates this problem with at-cost pricing across the board. Always calculate the five-year total before committing. See our best domain registrars 2026 for registrar-specific pricing.
Aftermarket Pricing Tiers
The aftermarket is where real price variation exists. Domains change hands at prices ranging from $50 to millions of dollars. Here is how the market breaks down by price tier:
Under $1,000
Long-tail keyword domains, multi-word phrases, lesser-known extensions, and names without strong commercial intent. This tier represents the vast majority of aftermarket transactions by volume. Many investors start here, acquiring names they believe will appreciate as industries grow.
$1,000 to $10,000
Two-to-three word .com domains with moderate keyword value, brandable names with clean histories, and popular niche-specific names. This is the sweet spot for active domain investors, where comparable sales data is plentiful and buyer demand is steady.
$10,000 to $100,000
Strong one-to-two word .com domains, short acronyms (3-4 letters), and high-value keyword names in commercial niches like finance, health, technology, and real estate. Transactions in this range frequently involve brokers and more complex negotiations. Our private domain sales negotiation guide covers tactics for this price level.
$100,000 to $1,000,000
Premium one-word .com domains, two-letter combinations, and high-traffic brandable names. Sales at this level are often driven by funded startups, corporate acquisitions, or major brand launches. Due diligence is extensive. See our domain purchase due diligence for what to verify.
Over $1,000,000
Ultra-premium generics and category-defining names. Icon.com sold for $12 million in 2025. Chat.com went to OpenAI for $15.5 million. Voice.com sold for $30 million. These transactions are rare (a few dozen per year globally) and represent the peak of domain value.
What Drives Aftermarket Price
Length
Shorter names command higher prices because they are scarcer and easier to type, remember, and brand. One-word .com domains are the most valuable category. Two-letter .com domains trade consistently in the six-figure range. Our short domain names value analysis quantifies this relationship.
Keyword Strength
Names containing words with high commercial search volume (insurance, mortgage, travel, health) carry built-in demand from businesses that want to capture organic search traffic. Use Google Keyword Planner to research monthly search volume for terms contained in a domain.
Extension
The .com premium is real and persistent. In 2025, .com names captured 72% of total aftermarket dollar volume. The .ai extension is the notable exception, commanding premium prices tied to the AI industry boom, with registrations reaching 908,000 and growing at 1% weekly. Our the dotcom premium article quantifies the extension gap.
Brandability
A domain does not need to be a dictionary word to be valuable. Names that are short, pronounceable, and easy to spell carry branding value. Think Zillow, Spotify, or Hulu. These names had no inherent meaning before the companies behind them created brand recognition. Our domain name brandability score framework helps evaluate this factor.
Traffic and Backlinks
Domains with existing type-in traffic or strong backlink profiles from previous websites command premiums because they come with built-in authority and visitors. Check metrics using tools like Ahrefs, Moz, or SEMrush. Our domain backlink profile evaluation explains what to look for.
Domain Age
Older domains with clean registration histories signal trustworthiness to search engines. A domain registered in 2005 with consistent ownership carries more credibility than one registered last month. Age alone does not determine value, but it can justify a 10% to 30% premium over otherwise identical newer names.
How to Research Fair Market Value
Step 1: Check Comparable Sales
NameBio aggregates reported domain sales with filters for TLD, length, keywords, and price range. Search for names structurally similar to the one you are evaluating. Look at the last 12 to 24 months of data for the most relevant comparisons.
Step 2: Run Automated Appraisals
Estibot, GoDaddy’s Domain Appraisal tool, and HumbleWorth provide algorithm-based estimates. These tools consider length, keyword data, TLD, and comparable sales. Use them as one data point among several, not as a definitive answer.
Step 3: Check Active Listings
Search Afternic, Sedo, and Dan.com for comparable domains currently listed. Asking prices are not sale prices, but they show where sellers are positioning similar names.
Step 4: Evaluate Unique Factors
Does the domain match a company name? Is the keyword trending? Does the domain have traffic or backlinks? These factors can push the price well above what comparable sales data suggests. Our domain value estimator guide walks through the complete evaluation framework.
Common Pricing Mistakes
Overvaluing based on personal attachment: The name might mean something to you, but buyers pay based on market data, not your emotional connection. Always anchor pricing to comparables.
Ignoring renewal cost in ROI calculations: A domain purchased for $500 with $15 annual renewals costs $650 after 10 years of holding. Factor cumulative holding costs into your minimum sale price.
Pricing too high for the market: Setting an unrealistic price does not leave room for negotiation; it eliminates buyers entirely. The most active price range for aftermarket sales is $1,000 to $10,000, and pricing above that level without comparable justification means waiting indefinitely.
Assuming TLD equivalence: A .io version of a name is not worth what the .com version is worth. Price each extension according to its own comparable sales data, not by extrapolating from a different extension.
Key Takeaways
- Standard .com registration costs $10 to $15 per year; aftermarket prices range from $50 to millions
- Always calculate five-year total cost, including registrar renewal pricing differences
- Length, keyword strength, extension, brandability, and traffic are the primary value drivers
- Cross-reference NameBio comparables, automated appraisals, and active listings before making pricing decisions
- Factor cumulative holding costs into your minimum acceptable sale price
Next Steps
- Dive deeper into valuation mechanics with our domain value estimator guide
- Learn negotiation strategies for high-value names in our private domain sales negotiation guide
- Track market trends in our biggest domain sales 2025-2026 analysis
Domain valuations are estimates, not guarantees. Market conditions, buyer intent, and industry trends can shift rapidly. Base investment decisions on thorough research and diversified holdings.
Sources: Shopify Domain Price Guide 2026, Elementor Domain Cost Guide, Hostinger Domain Valuation Guide