When most people think about the price of a domain, a range around $15 usually pops up. However, domain names often sell for much more than that. But often, domain names sell for much more than that.
The average price of a domain name sold in the secondary market—buying a domain from someone who already owns it—is in the thousands of dollars.
It is not unusual to see public domain sales reported weekly in the tens or hundreds of thousands, and often domain sales are reported in the millions. You can check out dnjournal.com for weekly domain sales reporting, as well as annual historical sales reports.
Nailing down the most expensive domain names isn’t easy —most parties involved often try to keep that information private. Reasons include keeping competitors in the dark or not wanting others to know how much they're willing to spend on a domain in the future.
It’s a pretty common assertion that the vast majority of high-value domain sales are done with some sort of non-disclosure agreement in place. Luckily for us, enough sales are public, so we can still have a good idea of the domain market and its health over the years.
The number one spot
The most expensive domain name ever sold was Cars.com, valued and sold at $872 million, by its parent company, Gannett Co., Inc. according to the SEC filing.
While many people don't report the sale of their domains publicly, top lists vary. However, overall, most agree with the highest sales reported for domain names.
Editor’s note: Want to capture the coveted number one spot in domain name sales? You’ll need to make sure your domains are worth their weight. With GoDaddy Domain Appraisals, you can get the most accurate and comprehensive domain pricing estimates available. We use an exclusive algorithm that relies on both machine learning and real market sales data to estimate domain values.
As the world’s largest domain registrar we can help make domain investing accessible as well as profitable for everyone.
25 most expensive domain names publicly reported
Here are the 25 most expensive domain names publicly reported:
- CarInsurance.com — $49.7 million
- Insurance.com — $35.6 million
- VacationRentals.com — $35 million
- PrivateJet.com — $30.18 million
- Voice.com — $30 million
- Internet.com — $18 million
- 360.com — $17 million
- Insure.com — $16 million
- Fund.com — £9.99 million
- Chat.com $15.5 million
- NFTS.com $15 million
- Rocket.com $14 million
- Sex.com — $14 million*
- Sex.com — $13 million
- Hotels.com — $11 million
- AI.com $11 million
- Tesla.com $11 million
- Connect.com $10 million
- Porn.com — $9.5 million
- Shoes.com — $9 million
- Porno.com — $8.8 million
- Fb.com — $8.5 million
- We.com — $8 million
- Business.com — $7.5 million
- Diamond.com — $7.5 million
* The sex.com domain name sold twice—once in 2005 for $14 million and again in 2010 for $13 million.
Strategies for valuing and purchasing premium domains
Use domain name generators
Leverage domain name generators to brainstorm and find available domains that align with your business goals. Describe your business or project in a few words to get tailored domain suggestions.
Check for trademark availability
Before purchasing a premium domain, verify that the domain name does not infringe on existing trademarks. This precaution helps avoid legal issues and ensures your brand remains unique and protected
Buy through a domain broker
A popular option for purchasing a domain name that’s already taken is to use a domain broker. A domain broker can purchase the domain name for you by contacting the seller and making an offer. They handle all of the legal issues involved in the sale, removing the risk and possible headaches surrounding trademarks or other legal issues, and negotiating prices. The broker usually gets a portion of the sale.
Participate in domain auctions
Domain auction sites allow owners to sell their domain names through an auction. Potential buyers bid on the domain name, increasing the price until the sale ends. This method can become competitive, so the prices for popular names can become expensive.
Directly contact the domain owner
The owner may be willing to sell the domain name directly to you. The best option is to contact the domain owner and ask. You’ll still need to consider any legal issues, but this could be an easy way to purchase the domain name.
What is your domain name worth?
Now that you know what domain names can potentially sell for, you're probably wondering what your domain name is worth. You can use GoDaddy Domain Appraisal to get a domain valuation.
Stacey Hartman contributed to this article.
Read more about domain flipping, tips on how to make money with domains.
