What is pending delete?
Pending delete is the final stage before a registry deletes a domain. The name can no longer be renewed or restored by anyone, and when the stage ends it is released for anyone to register.
Where pending delete fits
For .com, .net, .org and most generic extensions, an unrenewed name goes through three stages after its expiry date:
- Auto-renew grace period: up to 45 days, set by the registrar. The owner can renew at the normal price. Many registrars auction the name during this time.
- Redemption period: 30 days. The owner can still restore the name, usually for an extra fee.
- Pending delete: 5 days. Nobody can renew or restore it. At the end, the registry deletes it.
In the registry's records the status shows as pendingDelete. You can see it for any name in our domain checker or whois lookup.
Country extensions are different
Country registries set their own rules. Nominet releases .uk names about 90 days after expiry at a published time, Registro .it uses daily slots, and auDA purges .au names at a set time after their grace period. Our expired domains list uses each registry's own dates.
How to get a name in pending delete
- For a name others will want, place a backorder with one or more drop-catching services before the five days are up.
- For anything else, star it on the pending delete list and register it at any registrar once the countdown ends. Most names are never caught, so they are still free afterwards; see the deleted domains list.
Before you buy, check its history.
More guides
- How to buy an expired domain
- Types of expired domains
- How to choose a good expired domain
- Expired domain red flags
- Expired domain tools compared
- Aged domains explained
- How to find expired domains
- Are expired domains good for SEO?
- How to backorder a domain
- How many expired domains get caught?
- Expired domains with backlinks
- The domain redemption period
- How .uk domains drop
- How to value a domain
- Redirecting an expired domain
- Building a site on an expired domain
- Expired domain or new domain?
- Whois and RDAP explained
- Drop catching explained
- Expired domains for small businesses
- How to check a domain before you buy
- Expiry, redemption and pending delete
- How we score domains
Frequently asked questions
Can I renew a domain in pending delete?
No. Neither the owner nor the registrar can renew or restore a name once it is in pending delete. It will be deleted when the stage ends.
How do I know when a pending delete domain will drop?
Add five days to the day it entered pending delete; the drop happens during the registry's daily delete window. Our lists show a countdown for each name.
Is pending delete the same as expired?
No. Expired means the renewal date has passed. Pending delete is the last stage after expiry, when the name is about to be deleted.
Last updated 15 October 2026