Drop Catching: How to Grab Expiring Domains

What Is Drop Catching?

Drop catching is the practice of registering a domain name the moment it becomes available after its previous registration expires. It's like being first in line at a store opening, except the store opens at a specific time that you need to figure out, and there might be a hundred other people trying to squeeze through the door at the exact same second.

When someone doesn't renew their domain, it doesn't instantly become available. It goes through a deletion process that can take anywhere from a few days to several months, depending on the TLD (top-level domain like .com, .net, or .org). Once that process completes, the domain "drops" back into the pool of available domains.

If you're new to this concept, our guide on what drop catching actually means breaks it down in plain terms.

Why Do Domains Drop in the First Place?

People let domains expire for all sorts of reasons. A business shuts down. Someone forgets to update their payment method. A side project gets abandoned. A company rebrands and doesn't need the old name anymore. Sometimes it's as simple as the renewal email landing in spam.

Whatever the reason, the result is the same: a domain that someone once registered becomes available again. And if that domain happens to be short, memorable, or contains valuable keywords, it can be worth significant money to the right buyer.

Here's where it gets interesting. Some of these dropping domains have real value:

• Short, memorable names that are impossible to register fresh
• Exact-match domains for popular search terms
• Domains with existing backlinks and domain authority
• Generic words that make great brand names
• Previously developed sites with traffic still coming in

The Domain Expiration Timeline

Understanding the deletion timeline is crucial if you want to catch domains. It's not as simple as "domain expires, domain becomes available." There are multiple stages, and each one has different implications for drop catchers.

For .com and .net domains (the most commonly drop-caught TLDs), the typical timeline looks something like this:

1. Expiration Date: The domain stops resolving (usually). The registrar may park it or show a "this domain has expired" page.
2. Grace Period (0-45 days): The original owner can still renew at normal price. Duration varies by registrar.
3. Redemption Period (~30 days): Owner can still recover the domain, but it costs extra. Usually $100+ on top of renewal.
4. Pending Delete (5 days): Final countdown. No recovery possible. Domain will drop at the end.
5. Drop: Domain becomes available for registration again.

We've written a detailed breakdown of the complete domain expiration process if you want to understand each stage.

When Exactly Do Domains Drop?

This is the million-dollar question, sometimes literally. For .com and .net domains, Verisign (the registry that manages these TLDs) releases domains once per day, typically between 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM Eastern Time. But the exact second varies.

Other TLDs have their own schedules. Some drop domains multiple times per day. Others have weekly drops. A few require you to backorder through the registry itself.

Our guide on TLD-specific drop schedules covers the timing details for popular domain extensions.

How to Actually Catch a Dropping Domain

Let's be honest: if you're trying to catch a desirable domain, you're competing against professional drop catching services with server farms positioned close to registry data centers. They can fire off hundreds of registration attempts in the first millisecond after a domain becomes available.

That said, you're not completely out of luck. Here are your options:

Use a Drop Catching Service

Services like SnapNames, DropCatch, and NameJet let you place backorders on domains. When the domain drops, their systems attempt to catch it. If multiple people want the same domain, it usually goes to auction among the backorderers. You'll pay a premium over standard registration (often $59-99 or more), but for valuable domains, it's your best shot.

Try Your Luck Manually

For less competitive domains, you might get lucky with manual registration. Keep your registrar's checkout page ready, know the approximate drop time, and refresh repeatedly. It works sometimes, especially for domains that the pros aren't interested in.

Monitor and Wait

Sometimes the smartest move is patience. A domain you want might currently be registered but expiring soon. Monitor its status. Watch for it to enter pending delete. Then make your move. This is where domain monitoring tools become essential.

What Makes a Domain Worth Catching?

Not every expiring domain is worth your time. Before you invest effort in catching a domain, consider:

• Length: Shorter is generally better. A 4-letter .com has inherent value.
• Memorability: Can someone hear it once and remember it?
• Keywords: Does it contain valuable search terms?
• Brandability: Could a business build a brand around this name?
• History: Does it have backlinks? Domain authority? Clean history?
• TLD: .com is king, but country codes and new TLDs have their place.

Also check for red flags. Has the domain been used for spam? Is it trademarked? Was it penalized by Google? These issues can make a domain worthless despite surface-level appeal.

Tools You'll Need for Drop Catching

Successful drop catching requires the right toolkit:

• Domain monitoring service: Track expiration dates and status changes in real-time
• Expiration calendar: Know exactly when your target domains are scheduled to drop
• WHOIS lookup tools: Research domain history and current status
• Backlink checkers: Evaluate existing link profiles before committing
• Drop catching service accounts: Have multiple services ready to maximize your chances

Learn More About Drop Catching

We've created detailed guides on specific aspects of drop catching:

• What is Drop Catching? - A beginner's introduction to the concept
• Domain Expiration Lifecycle - The complete journey from registration to drop
• TLD Drop Schedules - When different domain extensions become available