During the lifecycle of a domain extension, domains can go through various stages. The duration of each stage varies depending on the extension type. One of these phases is called the "deletion period" or Pending Delete.
What is the deletion period?
It is the final period in a domain's lifecycle, and once it ends the domain is deleted. The Pending Delete phase begins after the previous phases — the grace period and the redemption period — have passed.
Once the domain enters the deletion phase, renewal is no longer possible — the domain is waiting to be deleted by the registrar.
How long does the "pending delete" period last?
The duration of the deletion period varies by extension type. For a .com domain, this phase lasts 5 days, counted from the end of the previous phase (the redemption period).
However, some extensions don't go through any of these stages. For country-code domains like .es, the domain is automatically deleted upon expiry without a redemption or pending delete phase.
How can I tell if my domain is in the deletion period?
A domain's status is reported in real time through WHOIS data. You can use our WHOIS lookup tool to check the status of any domain — yours or anyone else's.
Simply enter the domain and it will show you the expiry date, or if expired, which phase it's in.
Can I renew a domain that's in the deletion period?
No. If you missed the opportunity to renew during the grace period or the redemption period, you can no longer do so because, as mentioned, in the Pending Delete phase your domain is waiting to be deleted.
Can I register the domain again once it's deleted?
It's possible... as long as you're the fastest and the domain doesn't go to auction. Domains that return to normal sale can be highly sought after — not just by you, but by companies that specialize in registering valuable expired domains to resell to their original owners. Our advice is always the same: "Don't let a domain that has value to you expire, or it will cost you dearly."