Drop: When a Deleted Domain Returns to the Pool
A drop is the moment a domain, having passed through its full post-expiry lifecycle, is deleted by the registry and becomes available for anyone to register — first come, first served. For gTLDs, it follows the 5-day pendingDelete status; registries typically release deleting names in a daily batch window.
The runway to the drop
By the time a name drops, its owner has had every chance: the registrar grace period, then roughly 30 days of redemption, then 5 days of pendingDelete during which nothing can save it. A name showing pendingDelete is guaranteed to drop within days — which is exactly why drop-catchers watch that status.
Who actually gets a dropped name
For any name with measurable value, hand-registering at the moment of the drop rarely works. Drop-catching services hammer the registry with registration attempts the instant names delete, and valuable drops are usually caught within seconds — then auctioned if multiple customers backordered them. Genuinely unnoticed names, though, drop quietly and can be hand-registered at base price.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do domains drop?
It varies by registry, but deletions are typically processed in a daily batch window. Drop-catching services track each registry's timing so their customers do not have to.
Can I get a dropping domain by registering it manually?
Only if nobody else wants it. Contested names are caught by drop-catching services within seconds of deletion. For a name you care about, place backorders with one or more catching services instead.