Backorder (Domain Investing)
A backorder is a standing request placed with a drop-catching service to register a specific domain the moment the registry deletes it. You place the order while the name is still moving through its expiry lifecycle; the service races other catchers at the drop, and you pay only if it wins — though contested names then go to auction among the backorderers.
How a backorder plays out
- •Place the backorder while the domain is expired, in redemption, or in pendingDelete — earlier is better at services that gate auction entry by order time.
- •If the service catches the name and you were the only backorderer, it is yours for the flat fee (commonly around $20-$100).
- •If multiple customers backordered it, the service runs a private auction — the backorder fee becomes your ticket in, not your price.
- •If the service loses the race, you typically pay nothing.
Backorder vs. drop catch — the common confusion
A backorder is the request; the drop catch is the execution. Placing a backorder does not reserve the name or guarantee anything — it just puts a professional catcher in the race on your behalf. For names that matter, place backorders at several competing services, since any one catcher can lose the drop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a backorder guarantee I get the domain?
No. The catching service must win the registration race, and if it does, other backorderers at the same service can force an auction. A backorder is a lottery ticket with good odds, not a reservation.
Can the original owner still keep a backordered domain?
Yes — until the name actually deletes, the registrant can renew or redeem it. Backorders only pay off if the domain completes pendingDelete and drops.